by A. M. Hudson
listening to my evil conscience—” he shook his head, “— but we talked about this once, remember?
You told me you wanted a guy who coul d respect you. And any guy that w ouldn’t have...sex with
you until you got married would be the right one for you. You meant it then, and it’s up to me to help
you keep those values intact—even in times of...pressure.”
He’s right. I did say that. But it was so l ong ago, when absti nence was in fashion, and I
must’ve only been, like, fourteen. How can he remember that? “Well, maybe I changed my mind.”
“Ara, I’m a gr own man. I ’ve done this be fore, but you—you’re so young, and you don’t
know what you’re getting your self into. We have the rest of our lives for grown-up stuff. Let ’s just
wait a while before we take that step, okay?”
“But you won’t even kiss me?” The heat moved from my heart and limbs to places in my
body that normally only felt hot around David.
“I want to. I just don’t wanna lose control.”
“Is it that bad if you do? I mean, it won’t be the end of the world, right?” You’re not going to
eat me, like my last boyfriend.
Mike chuckled and looked down at my legs around him. “No, you’re right. It really wouldn’t.
I guess—I don’t know, I guess I’m not used to being allowed to to uch you like this. My blood’s
going mad in here trying to control my fingers.”
“Me too—”
“Really?” Mike said.
Why is that so hard to believe?
“Okay, well, I go tta stand up ‘cause my feet’re going numb.” He laughed and sat beside me
on the bed again; I sighed aloud. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“It just seems like a convenient excuse. Are you afraid if you see me naked you’ll change
your mind about me?”
“What? Why would you say a thing like that?”
I shrugged.
“Ara, baby, the thought of you naked is...” He shook his head. “You can’t even ment ion
things like that to a guy who’s trying not to sedu ce you. Look what you’ve done to me—here, feel.”
He placed my hand on his chest—over his heart. It thumped rapidly through its cage, like, I could
almost feel it tapping my hand.
“That doesn’t mean anything.” I dropped my hand. “Just because you want sex doesn’t mean
you’re attracted to me. I’ve seen some of the girls you took home.”
“Ara—”
“Just...you would tell me, right?” I kept my head down, but looked at him from under my
lashes. “If there was something wrong with me—you’d tell me?”
Behind closed lips, his laughter rumbled in the back of his thr oat. “Oh, Ara. I’m sorry—I
didn’t mean to laugh. You’re just so sweet and innocent.” Mike shook his head. “I love you, okay? I
meant it when I said—you are perfect.”
We both breathed out heavily and sat in complete silence; Mike couldn’t wipe the grin fr om
his face, while I just felt awkward and undesirable.
“Okay, that’s enough,” he said finally. “I have to do it. I’ m just gonna do it slowly though,
okay?” He reached his hand to the side of my fa ce and slid his fingers along my neck—making my
skin tingle so much my shoulders lifted.
Inch by inch, his face moved closer to mine, his lips parting to release his hot breath over my
chin. I swallowed and moistened my lips with my tongue—not daring to breathe, hoping my peanut-
butter breakfast wasn’t still on my breath. And the smile I gave when Mike tilted his head made him
laugh just as our lips touched. Finally touched.
He was so warm, so solid, so real.
His stubble scratched against my chin, while the warm breath from his nose brushed over my
upper lip. It was perfect—gentle, loving—not wet or sloppy like Emily described Spencer’s kiss.
He closed his lips around my tender pout, held there for just a second, then pulled slowly
away, keeping his eyes closed for a second.
We looked at each other and both broke into a smile.
“That was amazing, Ara. I could kiss you every day for the rest of my life and never get tired
of it.”
“I know what you mean. It was so perfect, Mike—the way it should’ve been,” I whi spered
softly, still feeling the tingle of his lips. My first human kiss.
“Do you—wanna try it again?” He grinned.
My eyes rolled a little with the desire in my heart. “I want to try it with our clothes off.”
Without a word, he shook his head. “No way. I won’t be able to control myself if I do that
with you now. And I know damn well you won’t ask me to.”
“Then don’t. I don’t want you to control yourself,” I added quickly.
“Ara, stop it, baby. I can onl y take so much. Why are you so quick to wanna give yourself to
me?”
“Are you kidding? Can you not feel the heat coming off my body? God, I’m only human,
Mike.”
“Yes, but you’re a seventeen-year-old human, Ara, and I’m a twenty-year-old man.”
“So? What would you do if you were me?”
“I’d think about it—think how you’ll feel after. I want our first time to be better than this—to
be special and planned out. I don’t even have protection, baby.” He cupped my chin. “Our first time
should be in a place we’re both comfortable, and alone—so I can take my time—touch you, kiss your
bare skin all over—slowly. I won’t rush our first time in a heated moment of passion. That stuff is for
later.” He chuckled, then took my hand. “I love you, so much, baby. When I finally get to cradle your
naked body in my arms and pres s my skin against you, I don’t want to waste it or risk messing it up
for the sake of uncontrollable desires in one moment. You have to remember, it’ s your first time—
and that’s special. You’ll always remember it. And I’m so glad it’ll be with me. I always
wanted to be the one.”
My body refused to move—even my face f roze into the teary-eyed smile it was wearing.
“Wow. Well, I don’t know if we need to have sex, now, Mike. I think we just did...in my
imagination. When did you learn to be so expressive?”
“It’s you—” His eyes grew round and wide above his smile. “You have so much emot ion
floating around you all the time—it’s catchy.”
“Well, let’s hope you don’t catch my moods, then.”
“Ha! Haven’t yet, have I?”
“No.” I twiddled my fingers in my lap. “Yet.”
Mike looked at me for a long moment, then traced my ring with his thumb. “Are you happy?”
“Yeah. I mean, I guess we need to decide where we’re going to live and stuff, but—”
“Just come to Perth with me. I’ll be all you’ll ever need. It’s your home, Ara. You belong
there.” I nodded. “I know, and I do miss home. I—”
Mike edged forward on the bed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. I hadn’t even made my
decision, but I think we both knew what I’d choose. The lure of the golden sand and blue skies that
can only be found in the stillness of the brightly lit and endless coastline of home was all too much to
keep me away for lon g. “Ara?” Mike gently grabbed my face. “I love you so much,” he said, then
kissed my forehead. “I gotta go tell my dad. He’s gonna be so happy I finally asked you.” He leaped
off the bed and made it only one step away before stopping to face me again. “You. Have m
ade me
the happiest man alive.” My eyes followed him t o where he knelt back down in front of me and took
my hand. “I was sure I’d come here to say goodbye. I—I was ready to leave with a broken heart, but
instead, I’ll be bringing yours home with me.”
As Mike stood up again and walked away, I twisted the ring around on my finger. It was so
delicate that if I knocked i t the wrong way I was sure it’d break. I was ha ppy though. Only, I didn’t
know how I was going to tell my dad. He’d never been too keen on the idea of minors getting
married. He’d probably make me wait until I turned eighteen—or maybe thirty.
Mike popped his head around the corner. “Dad says it’s about time.”
I grinned at him.
“Yes, Dad. I did.” He turned aw ay and spoke into the phone agai n. “No. Well, I need to be
home next week, but we haven’ t told Ara’s dad yet .” My smile dropped when Mike disappear ed
down the hall again—leaving me alone with my thoughts.
What will my dad say? What will Vicki say? I know what my mum would’ve said. She’d be
happy. Even though I’m young. She would’ve been able to see that I love him; she would’ve taken
me shopping for a dress, and....I let that thought slip away with the agony it brought.
What would David say? After all, he wanted this—he gave me away. He must’ ve known,
when he told Mike to have me, that this would happen.
I wonder where he is now? If he’s far away, if he’s hurting?
The pyramids along the Nile came to mind with an image of David flying over them in a
silver plane. Whenever I hear that song—You Belong to Me—I’ll always think of David.
But the next thought that came was a warm one, a happy one, and I smiled.
I think I’ll be okay. Mike is enough to keep my heart beating every day. I will love him, and
be happy with him.
But David won’t. He’ll never find love again. He’ll never be okay again.
If things were different—normal, it would’ve been David that placed a ring on my finger.
I looked down at my left hand and traced my fingertip over the ruby. It was such a pretty
ring, and I couldn’t help but to smile at the odd significance of the single red rose.
Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
Mike twisted his fingers throu gh mine and walked with that permanent grin etched onto his
lips as we strolled through the shopping mall. When we passed a tall shop window, with the evening
sun behind us, I caught our reflection in the glass; we looked so right together, like we were actually
one puzzle—split in two. Even though my head only j ust came up to his chin and my hands looked
like a child’s inside of his, we still looked perfect.
He ran his thumb over my ruby ring for the hundr edth time, and I wrapped my ot her hand
over his forearm to get clos er. The smile I wore, though, was forced. Although I was happy about
the engagement, I couldn’t help but to f eel like, somehow, I’d lost some thing I could never get
back.
“What’re you thinkin’ about, pretty girl?” Mike asked, squeezing my hand.
“Um,” I stalled, “I was just thinking...that...your tux is going to look really great next to my
dress.”
“Yeah. Good call bringing a colour swatch to match up the tie.” He nodded to himself. “I
just can’t wait to see you all dressed up—lookin’ like a princess.”
“Well—” I started, then Mike switched sides with me quickly, forcing me closer to the wall
as a group of boys dressed in thick jackets and pants way too big for their bodies fenced us in on the
sidewalk.
“Hey, man, you got a light?” one of them asked in a creepy tone, holding out a cigarette.
“No. Sorry. Don’t smoke.” Mike nodded politely, standing tall, completely unfazed by their
proximity.
The tallest boy, with a half-grown moustache, all but undressed me with his eyes. “Nice girl
you got there.” He nodded. “Looks a little scared, though.”
“Yeah,” another boy said, slapping his friend on the arm. “Maybe I can comfort her.”
The rest of the boys laughed.
Mike smiled at me, gripping my hand tighter. I lowered my head. “Well,” he started, “she’s
seventeen, she has a right to be. There are six of you, standing impolitely close to the two of us. You
should have more respect, mate.”
“Mike?” I squeezed his arm. “Shut up.”
“Nah, it’s cool.” The boy raised his palms . “He’s just defending his lady—I’d do the same.
No hard feelin’s, man?” he asked and extended his hand.
Mike, without hesitation, placed his strong, firm grip in the boy’s hand and shook once. The
boy looked up suddenly, his eyes becoming wide.
“Sure thing, mate,” Mike said. “No hard fee lings.” Then, he released his grip, and we
walked away—leaving the boys behind.
“Did you hurt him?” I asked, leaning closer.
“A little.” He shrugged. “I just gave him a clear warning that I wasn’t gonna take any crap.”
“Well, it worked,” I noted, risking one last glance over my shoulder—making sure they
didn’t follow.
“You got a little worried there, huh?” he said in a soothing tone.
“Yes. What’d you expect?”
“You never have to feel unsafe with me, Ara. I can put up a pretty good figh t. Granted, I’d
rather avoid that if I’m with you—but, I’m trained for this stuff, and I’m really strong.” He grinned,
raising his eyebrows.
“I know.” I nodded solemnly, not really feeling any better.
Mike stopped walking and grabbed my hips, holding me a few inches out from his. I cast my
eyes to the ground as he leaned in and gent ly, with a touch as soft as a whisper, kissed my cheek—
lingering there for a second. “You know I’ll always protect you, right?”
I nodded, turning my head j ust a little so my lips brushed softly across his chi n. I breathed
him in deeply, closing my eyes, while hi s fingertips inched just under the rim of my top above my
jeans. It felt surreal, the way he touched me so automatically—like we’d been together forever. My
heart still jumped every time, and a part of me wondered how long it would be before it felt
normal to have him touch me, before it became second nature—for me.
I stood back from him. “Well, I may need protection soon. We still have to tell my dad.” My
ruby ring sparkled in the sun as I waved my fingers.
“It’ll be fine. If he throws things at us, or gets out his shotgun, we’ll just go back home to
Perth.” Mike took both of my arms in his hands— lowering his chin just a little to meet my eyes.
“Look—” he started. It felt strange to see him look at me that way; the same old Mike, with the hint
of maturity that collected in his eyes when he had to be serious, but unlike before, there was also—
love—a different kind of love. “If it makes you feel any better, we can wait until after the ball to tell
your olds. It’ll give you some time to get used to the idea.”
“I think that’d be best. It’s been a difficult couple of months for everyone, and I don’t know
how he’ll cope with this. Vicki will freak out.”
“What about your friends? And David?” Mike stood taller when he said David.
“Mike. I can’t talk about him. Not ever. I never, ever want to hear his name again, okay?”
Mike�
��s eyes widened under his furr owed brow, and his mouth ope ned a little. “Sure.” He
nodded. “No worries, kid. But, should I be worried? I mean— did he hurt you?”
I shook my head. “No, Mike. It’s just that—I just don’t wanna talk about it. Okay?”
“Okay.”
That wasn’t enough of a reason for Mike. Bu t it’d have to do—for now. Everything to do
with David can stay in the past. Mike will keep trying until I tell him about it one day, and who
knows, maybe I will tell him. But not today.
Mike smiled to himself and started walking ag ain with his hands behind his back. “Okay. I
just can’t keep it in any longer, Ara. I have to tell you.”
“What? Tell me what?” I twisted my ring around on my finger.
“Don’t get mad, okay?” he said , and without wai ting for my response, added, “I already
asked your dad for his blessing. He knows about the ring—knows about everything—except that I
asked you today.”
“Really? Oh, that’s such a relief,” I breathed the words out. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought it was funnier to watch you stew.”
I slapped his chest with the back of my hand. “Jerk. Do you have any id ea what I’ve been
going through these past few hours?”
“I’m sorry. At least I didn’t leave it a few days.”
I rolled my eyes. As if that makes it any better. “Does he know you want to move me back
home?” Mike shook his head. “I left that part out. Told him I might get a job over here.”
“But that’s not what you plan to do, is it?”
“Ara, baby. I want to be wher ever you are. I’ve done t his living without you thing, and it
sucked. No more. I’ll be wherever you want to be. Just say the words, and we’ll do it.”
I didn’t know what to say.
“Come on.” Mike wrapped his arm around my waist and started walking again. “We’ve left
the shopping in the car a little too long, now.”
“I hope the chocolate hasn’t melted.”
“Nah, it’ll be fine.” He stuff ed his other hand in his pocket, and I snuggled against him as
we walked. “So, shall we go break the good news to Greg and Vicki—I know she’s been busting for
me to ask you since I first told your dad about the ring.”
“When did you tell them?”