Page 40 of The Write Knight

"Sure. I've never been to one," she answers. Leading her in that direction, I place my hand on her lower back, loving the feel of her against me.

“Everyone needs to experience it at least once. I am curious to see what all we have available this year. Let me know if you see something you like." She looks at me incredulously.

"I am not letting you bid on something for me with everything that you have already done today, Miles,” she insists.

"Well, technically, it would benefit the charity." I smirk down at her when she looks up at me. She just sighs as we walk around, looking through the auction. There are antique cars, boats, destination vacations, all-inclusive spa packages, tickets to sporting events and concerts, but just about everything else you can imagine also.

Lizzie stops in front of a trip to Ireland and reads the details. Up until that point, she’s just been looking at the different exhibits. However, something about this one catches her attention. I stand back and watch her as she looks ateverything that the trip includes. I don't want to break the moment for her, so I continue past her to look at other items while keeping my eyes on her. I wonder if she has ever been to Ireland. It's such a beautiful country. I would love to take her there. I think she would love it, especially with her literature background. Many well-known authors in the eighteenth and nineteenth century were Irish born, although often considered English authors. It wasn't until the twentieth century, when Ireland petitioned for independence that scholars reclaimed those authors and their works to be known as Anglo-Irish literature.

I look down at the auction item in front of me and it grabs my attention. A gun metal gray 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang would look amazing in my collection. As I am reading about the car, I hear Lizzie's laugh, and it pulls my attention away from the car. When I look up, I see Timothy Alexander, standing far too close to my girl. He is grinning like he won the lottery. He's a known playboy in this crowd; it shouldn't surprise me that he zeroed in on the most beautiful woman in the room to try his luck. Unfortunately for him, she’s already taken. It pisses me off more that he already saw us together, and he is taking this time when I’m not beside her to make his approach. My fists clench at my side as I walk over to where they are talking. Coming up beside Lizzie, I grab her waist and pull her close to me, making Timothy have to take a few steps back. "There you are, baby." I say, looking down at her.

"Timothy, I haven't seen you in quite a while. Hope you’re doing well." I hold my hand out for him to shake. He nods, shaking my hand.

"Very well. I was just looking at this trip in the auction, and I met Elizabeth. Seems we have a mutual interest in Ireland."

"I see," I reply to Timothy. Looking down at Lizzie I say, "The auction is almost over, do you want to head back to thetable? I'm sure Sebastian and Sarah are wondering where we went off to."

"Oh, you're right. I didn’t tell her I wasn't coming right back. It was nice meeting you, Timothy," Lizzie tells him politely as I lead her away from this fuck face, trying to move in on my woman. Once we get back to the table, it’s empty. I pull out Lizzie's chair for her and take my place beside her. The band has started up again, and there are many couples on the dance floor. When I see Sebastian dancing with Sarah, I can't help but chuckle. She must have asked him to dance. He never does unless he’s forced, and the idea that Sarah must have done that makes me smile.

"Seb and Sarah seem to be getting along." I point to where they are dancing, and I hear a gasp coming from Lizzie.

"Wow, I definitely didn't see that coming. He is not her type at all. Maybe they were just bored sitting here," she ponders. I take her hand in mine, kissing her knuckles. She looks back at me and smiles.

"You just can't keep your hands to yourself, can you?" she queries laughingly.

"Not where you are concerned," I admit as I pull her in for a kiss. When we pull away, I see mother approaching the table which gives me the perfect opportunity to go bid on the trip to Ireland as a surprise for Lizzie. I wasn't going to leave her at the table alone. I stand and pull the chair out for mother and tell them I will be right back.

Walking quickly toward the silent auction tables, I find the Ireland trip I’m looking for and put my name down. I see Timothy bid as well, and the need to outbid him overwhelms me. I place an outrageous bid that pretty much guarantees my winning. I put the pen down and head back to our table, just in time to see Sebastian leading Sarah back as well. He looks… happy? Interesting.

I slip into my seat, while my mother and Lizzie are talking. I glance at Seb, and he just winks at me. I warned him about messing with Sarah. I may have to give him a little reminder although, I am pleased that she seems to be comfortable with him. Maybe she is a one-night kind of girl. Not judging at all, I just don’t want it to blow up in our faces.

The band continues to play, so I rise from my chair and hold out my hand for Lizzie. "May I have this dance?"

"Of course." She smiles shyly and places her hand in mine as I help her from her seat. I guide her toward the dance floor just as another song starts playing. I recognize it instantly as, “Say You Won't Let Go” by James Arthur. I love that this will be the first song we dance to. Once we get onto the dance floor, I pull her close to my chest. Taking her hand in mine and placing the other on her waist, I begin to dance us around the floor with the lyrics weaving their way through us. I look down at her, and again, I can't help but feel so incredibly fortunate to have met her. I lean over and sing some of the lyrics in her ear as we sway to the music. I feel her body melt into mine, and it's the perfect fit.

"Everyone is looking at you, Miles," she whispers, as she looks around the room.

"Lizzie, you are the most exquisite creature I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Trust me when I say, it is you they are looking at. They’re all jealous that I’m the one that has you in my arms." She looks up at me with a mix of wonder and love.

"Baby, I wish I could frame the way you’re looking at me with those gorgeous brown eyes. I feel like I can see everything you are feeling. You take my breath away," I murmur, nuzzling my nose along the column of her neck and feeling her shuttering breath.

"No one has ever said anything like that to me before," she breathes out. Leaning down, I bring my lips to hers. I liftmy hands to cup her face. People around us continue to dance, but I stop and look in her eyes, seeing everything I’m feeling reflected back at me. I must tell her I love her, and I know she feels it as well.

"Lizzie, I…" I’m cut off from what I was about to say by a drunk Timothy. He grabs ahold of her arm, trying to pull her away from me. For a moment, I am stunned that we were interrupted, but it soon turns to anger when I realize he means to take her from me.

"You don’t mind if I cut in, do you, Miles? Surely, you can share this beautiful woman," he slurs a bit as he continues to pull on Lizzie's arm. When she winces from the pain, I see red. I take his hand from her arm and squeeze until he draws back, then I step between them. Lizzie moves behind me as people begin to stare.

"You will never lay another finger on her again. Do you understand?" I seethe as his steps falter a bit. Instead of agreeing, he steps closer with a sleazy grin on his face.

"And what if she wants me to touch her? Huh? I bet she's easy if she is here with you. She has those fuck me eyes, and I think I…” Before he can finish his disgusting little speech, my fist connects with his face, and he falls flat on his back in the middle of the dance floor. Combined gasps come from all around us, but the only thing I’m concerned about is getting Lizzie out of here. I turn around and see all the color has drained from her face. I step closer and pull her body against mine. I can feel her trembling beneath my touch, and it only ignites my rage further that someone would dare lay a finger on her like that. I pull back and raise her chin up, so I can look into her eyes.

"Are you okay, baby?" She silently nods, but I can see that she is far from all right. Sebastian comes up to us with Sarah trailing behind him.

"What the hell just happened, man?" Seb asks, looking from me to Timothy lying on the floor.

"He put his filthy hands on her and was trying to fucking say she wanted him to. He didn't back down with my first warning, so I took him out with the second." Sebastian nods in understanding. He looks at Lizzie, and then at me.

"Get her out of here. I’ll handle this. Sarah can stay here with me, and I will get her home safely." He claps me on the shoulder, and I give him a nod in thanks.

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