Tainted

by Cyndi Goodgame

  “Here!”

  “You read my thoughts?”

  “No! Your face and body were both talking for me as always. You were looking around for someone. I assumed it was me. Am I mistaken?” His arms were open wide. He nodded away from him, but I was too focused on his face staring me down to look away.

  “No.” I stepped back away feeling suddenly too sweaty. He noticed the space added between us but didn’t ask, thank goodness.

  “You are missing breakfast,” he asked still without looking elsewhere.

  I looked back at the range. Where it was full of life two seconds ago, everyone was gone but my two guards Rion and Caymin. And Bane, who was just here. Was he my protector now instead of Pike?

  “Oh, I didn’t realize. I guess I got caught up in the range, and then when you didn’t come, I.…” I wasn’t sure I wanted to say it. “I was waiting for you all morning and you never came.” I sounded like a teenage hormone drama queen.

  “I had something come up.”

  I raised my eyebrows.

  “There was a disturbance on the court boundaries. I took care of it.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Of course. All is in order again.”

  I looked down at the arrows I had left. He was leaving something out. “I thought we would not hide anything from each other. That is what you said, right?”

  “You’re right!” He didn’t want to tell me whatever it was.

  His heavy sigh followed with, “Pike is being a jerk. He dumped the box of fireworks that didn’t set off at your parents’ house and lit it on fire. The guards were in a big mess about it, but I recognized the signature he left for me alone to find and cleaned it up.”

  I laughed, “And you didn’t want to tell me, why?” That sounds like a disturbance worth investigating. I was still laughing only because I realized Pike was mad because of his own dang eavesdropping ears. Serves him right. “What was the signature, may I ask?”

  He sighed heavily, again.

  “Come on now!”

  “Grace, don’t make me say it.”

  I was really rattled now. My face stilled. What did Pike do? “Please! What did the Jerkface do?”

  He turned away from me and looked at the targets. “You did well today.”

  “I had a great tutor.” He beamed. “You’re changing the subject.”

  He kept his face on the targets. “Pike took the entire bag of…undergarments you left on your bed at your parents’ house and stuffed them in the box of fireworks. They were all over the entire wooded area this morning.”

  I stepped backwards landing on the range ledge where watchers usually sat to observe. OH NO! OH NO!

  Ian didn’t turn sideways to see my face but rather picked up a dagger and threw it. He most likely knew what my face was probably staging through.

  “And my UNMENTIONABLES were all over the forest.”

  “And ground.”

  Shock! Panic! Shock! I couldn’t look at him, but I had to ask. “And who picked up…everything.”

  “I did.”

  I dropped against the rail, my hands flying to my face bellowing mortification. I began to count in my head…one Mississippi…two Mississippi…until the fifth Mississippi I didn’t let out a single breath. He followed me quickly with arms flying around me.

  “He is SO…”

  “Hey, at least you’re wrath is focused on him. I had a blast, really.”

  I looked up at him. I shouldn’t have. “WHAT?”

  He leaned sideways bringing one leg up to pull something out of his pocket. My other black lacy bra that was sitting on the bed at the disaster house calamity yesterday was dangling before me. I thought I’d stashed it in the bag. I tried to grab it, but he held it higher. I looked up at it and snapped my eyes back to his face scowling.

  “I like it! I didn’t want to lose it,” he winked. I looked side to side to see if Bane or the guards were paying close attention, but thankfully, they weren’t.

  I was mad, no doubt. But if I were standing beside myself watching, I’d be totally awed by the man sitting in front of me. He was baiting me hook, line, and sinking faster by the second. I fixed my tears that threatened to come. “Did anyone else see?” He was still holding my bra up between us waving it back it forth like a pendulum of what’s to come then brought it to his lap.

  “Just all of my guards and several hundred Fey.”

  Tears of horror came anyway.

  “Joking! Just my two guards who were with me when the blast went off.” He stroked my cheek with the non-bra holding hand. His rogue smile found its way to me though he tried hard to keep it hidden. His face really spoke as much as his words like he said I do to him. As long as I’ve known him I realized now that his hands spoke too. His fisted hands meant he was controlling his anger, gentle hands on my shoulders meant to ease, and barely there fingertips meant something more was to come.

  “I sent them back to block anyone from coming. No one but me, myself, and I saw anything that would put suggestions in one’s head. My guards are loyal. And Pike’s a jerk.”

  I didn’t need to be reminded of that slime. It was a relief that hardly anyone else saw, but still so embarrassing. That meant Bane saw. I’ll never face him.

  “Don’t be embarrassed in front of me. I want to know every inch of you and what surrounds all of you too.” I saw the way his eyes lingered on various parts and back up to my face. It wasn’t meant to be sleazy coming from him with all the years of restraint I know now he held back. He was showing me what was ever present in the back of his mind and what he struggled with holding back. And I liked it. “I can’t wait to see you in this.”

  What is girl to do? “Boldness here would be great but I’m not feeling very bold. My husband to be just spent the morning picking up his future wife’s panties and bras.”

  “And you don’t realize how much I really enjoyed it.”

  “Ian!” The infuriating man laughed. “No laughing, husband to be.” I put my finger to his chest beside the garment hanging there.

  “Really! Will you wear it today? I’ll get your tie-dye t-shirt and jeans back.”

  “What? You have them?” That could get the results he wanted.

  “No, but I know where Danella hid them. Two birds. One stone.”

  “Oh, would you. Please?” Forget the fact that he just admitted he knew all along.

  He held the evil rather transparent ammo bra up to me.

  “Fine!”

  “Don’t look so mad,” he all but pouted.

  “I’m not mad, just new at this really bold making the moves on me Ian.”

  “And your blushing face is the highlight of my day.” His face was as flustered as mine.

  “But I didn’t spend the morning picking up your boxer shorts.”

  “I’m not the boxers type.”

  My mouth flew open. Imagination, don’t fail me now.

  He laughed. “Speechless, once again, my love.”

  “For someone who is new at this whole bold with Grace thing you are downright going the extra mile.”

  “You bring that out in me. I can’t wait to be married to you, Grace.”

  “Me either.” I had to smile at that. Devil Grace stepped up to the plate. I shifted my footing. Fine then. Bold! “So no boxers, huh?”

  “Commando!” He leaned in and kissed the side of my neck. Angel Grace closed her mouth before a fly jumped in. I shouldn’t have asked. I knew better. “Joking!”

  “Really?”

  “No!” He looked all too serious now. For all I know, all Fey go, commando.

  Oh my, to the tenth power! I’m going to sink right down into the ground and slither away.

  “Clothes or not?” He waved the ammo around again.

  “This is blackmail.”

  “I know. But blackmail only I’ll know about.”

  “Deal!” Game on!

  He got up to leave still waving his black flag. I grabbed his shirt to come back making hi
s body slingshot back around to face me.

  “You’re forgetting something.” I looked at the ammo.

  “Oh, yeah. That means I have to let it leave my hands.”

  “I truly am amazed at this brazenly bold Ian. Give me that!” It’s like he has these moments where he just captures me in his snare and I can’t see around him. Tunnel vision. Loosely termed, the Ian tunnel effect since it hinders me at the greatest of moments when I , and he, should be focused elsewhere.

  “I can’t wait to make you all the way mine. And for the record…I can easily admit that I quite enjoy teasing the blush out of you.” He pulled at a strand of my hair.

  I couldn’t rely on true logic being an option right then. “I don't think you’ll ever stop stilling my heart,” I patted my heart and batted my eyes playfully. On a scale of one to ten that made my skin electrify all the way up to a crazy wild nine. But the illogical heart driven part of my brain headed straight for the ten slot. He was just too good to be true sometimes.

  “Hope not!” He placed a slow eye opened soft kiss on my lips and handed the bra to me. Maybe it was the way he handed it to me, but it felt silkier than last I touched it. I’d have Danella wash it quickly while I bathed. Pike had his filthy paws on my stuff before it was blown all over the forest.

  Ian turned to go, again.

  “You’re still forgetting something,” I stepped closer hoping he got my hint. He turned and kissed me. A long time! He tasted like salt mixed with his earthy mint, a leftover of cleaning the trees sweat. “Yes, but still forgetting something.” He eyed his ammo.

  “No, Ian. MY clothes. MY end of the deal.”

  “And here I thought my kiss was all you needed.”

  “IAN!” I pressed my hand to his chest and held it there, which was very warm at the moment.

  “They are already lying on your bed.”

  “What? You deceitful man you. You had it all planned.”

  “No, I couldn’t be sure what you’d answer, but I hoped. See you soon, my love.”

  And he left me standing there bewildered by the fact that my Ian tunnel was keeping me from making sound decisions, set up from the start. My audacious devil Grace giggled just a bit though because his whole aim was to get me to wear the black lacy bra under absolutely anything.

  Chapter Fourteen

  cherished- v. 1.protect and care for someone lovingly 2.hold dear

  I stood there a second before heading to my room stifling giggles the entire way.

  “Miss Grace. Why are your undergarments on the outside? They should be UNDER garments, not OUTER garments.”

  “Thank you for that observation, Danella. Can you help me get ready? I have a new outfit to wear?”

  “Did you have something made? I can’t wait to see it,” she took a turn giggling and rubbing her hands together.

  “No, Danella. Miss Dan! But I however, will find it very comforting. You however will frown at me.”

  I practically ran into my room and realized halfway through the garden I was still holding the ammo and tucked it in my sleeve.

  A note was folded and lying on top of the neatly folded shirt and jeans.

  Adventures behind us,

  More will come,

  Tonight we celebrate

  What we’ve become.

  Meet me in the garden

  Right before noon

  Wearing this and my secret

  And the lavender perfume.

  “He is demanding!” And poetic.

  “What is it, Miss Grace?”

  “Sorry, I forgot I wasn’t alone.”

  “What is this?” Danella gestured to the clothes.

  “The clothes you hid from me. I have them back, thanks to Ian.”

  “At what cost?”

  “Not your business, Miss Nosy. Some things are best not known by my lady’s maid. Now, my bath and some privacy.”

  Danella’s crestfallen face showed me I’d let her down.

  “I’m sorry, Danella. It’s just Ian is really, really great and I don’t want to share this with anyone. Can you respect that?”

  She smiled a second time. “Yes, Miss Grace, as long as it’s honorable.”

  “Oh, for Pete’s sake, it’s a picnic, Danella. You helped plan it, remember.”

  “Who is Pete?”

  I rolled my sometimes-I-have-to-explain-everything eyes. “No one. No one at all.”

  “Okay!” And she followed me to the bath.

  I flipped the paper back open to the bottom and finished reading the final lines I didn’t get to before Danella was hovering over me.

  Hurry, don’t be late

  Our trampoline awaits

  We haven’t had our first date!

  In love with every part of you, Ian

  I’m going on a date. A real date. With the man I’m going to marry. Perhaps destiny is a real thing and we were meant to have this now. Dang it if I still didn’t want my fairy tale fantasy.

  I zoomed through the bath, lathered in lavender, and dressed slowly in my favorite well fitted, tie-dye princess sleeved t-shirt and button-up low-riding “diva” flare jeans. Just a little strawberry flavored lip gloss and voila, ready. And scared to death!

  Walking quicker than lady like, the impatience of wanting to be there pressed more and more. With him. I concentrated on trying to catch his thoughts but nothing until rounding the garden entrance and finding my guards there waiting. I was trying to catch Ian’s scent with the hope that he was already there. Padding through the garden on tiptoes, the absence of others was easily noticeable. I walked further in and stopped to send out my trace to find any thoughts or scents.

  There, spread out on the ground in front of the fountain was a large blanket, more food then Ian or I could eat, and actual pillows. Thankfully there were no water sprites, but also no Ian.

  Something moved behind me and I twirled around. And there stood the most amazing sight. I looked him up and down rather suggestively before I had time to think. The one raised eyebrow of perfection and crooked smile shined back in the glow of the fountain. I drew in a breath to catch the wind and found him and someone else but concentrated and told the unwanted presence to buzz off.

  “Are you checking me out, ma’am?”

  Ma’am! He was wearing an old concert t-shirt from our junior year, jeans, and boots. Hmmm! Mmmm! He wants to play a game. I smiled, “Yes, I am. Have I met you before?”

  His hands covered his heart, “You hurt me. Forgotten already on the first date.”

  “Oh, we are moving fast! Next, you’ll pull out a ring or something.”

  I ran my fingers through my hair, which was rare for me. I loved this flirting thing having missed out on that for years. More please?

  Yes, I agree.

  Huh? You heard.

  Concentrating on me that hard are ya?

  Rub! Rub! My pendant was warm from my touch now. He watched my other hand move through my hair second by second. I bit my lip with him watching too carefully. He looked at my chest. Oh! Underneath! Men! Wow! Power, I have. I was so glad he couldn’t read my thoughts now.

  “May I?” he gestured to the blanketed area.

  “Not hungry!” “Keep him guessing”, Teen magazine used to say.

  “Humor me, love.” He took my hand and pulled me to the blanket. We sat down facing each other and he raised a glass of something red in my direction and then to himself. “Red or green grapes?”

  “Red?”

  He picked one up and put it in my mouth.

  As I chewed, “this is very forward for a first date. I can feed myself.”

  He circled his hand around as if to go ahead. I took a bunch of them and started munching. He copied me. I sat so stiff like I had cramps in my side and tried to wriggle around to get comfortable. If this is what I missed dating, I wasn’t missing the uncomfortable seating. I felt like all eyes were on my every move, or at least his two eyes, though I was looking everywhere but at him.

  “Are you avoiding m
e?”

  “Oh, no! I’m just…nervous, I guess.” I checked the air once more. Only Ian’s mint and woodsy smell did I meet and that made me ease a little but I kept up my alert.

  “Nervous? Why?”

  It spilled out before I meant it too. “Because you are just staring at me, feeding me, focused on me, and this!” I pointed all around me.

  “It’s just me.”

  “That’s the problem. I’ve never done this. Or with you.”

  He reached over, pulled me closer, and kissed my cheek. “That’s a good thing, right?”

  “Yeah!” I dragged out my confused sigh. When I tried to take in a deep breath to calm myself I noted that Pike’s scent was no longer present.

  "Actually, we did this every Friday with chips and cookies and the stars."

  Ian picked up a green grape, popped it in his mouth, and slouched back on one arm laying his legs out beside him. “Is this the Romeo effect you like to reference, cause it's working?” He looked too smooth. Why could a man completely make a girl swoon with a smile?

  He caught my own personal reference to Shakespeare and I smiled too wide to play coy like I was better at it. “What is your favorite book you’ve ever read?”

  “You know the answer already,” I rolled my eyes.

  “Humor me.”

  “Tie! Romeo and Juliet and Dracula!”

  “Dracula? You never had that sitting on your balcony.”

  “That’s because it stayed under my pillow where I could read it when I wanted to,” I popped a grape in my mouth.

  “What? I didn’t know that!”

  “Alas! Not so one who peeps in windows. It is only the beginning to what you don’t know!” I giggled.

  “A quote no doubt?”

  “What do you know about Bram Stoker? Anything, Mr. Know it all?”

  “No, a surprise, no doubt,” he pouted.

  “What do you want to know next?” I caught him off guard. Ha! I’ll save him. “What is your favorite book?”

  “Proving wrong the novel Midsummer’s Night Dream.”

  “So expected that, but didn’t see it coming!” I laughed.

  He laughed too.

  “What is your current favorite color?”

  “Easy, green.” I didn’t hesitate. “Has been for years.”