by Holt, Layla
Ariana’s heart tightened with disappointment. Patience, she tried to tell herself, but it was hard to remain hopeful day after day, week after week and month after month, for two years. She missed her Papa. So much was happening to all of them that they could not share with him.
She’d harbored a secret wish ever since he fell into a coma. That he would get out of it, recover and walk her down the aisle. Now, that it was looking more and more likely with her and Jaime, it saddened her to think that she could be celebrating her wedding somewhere in the Palace while her father was in a coma.
It tore at her. She said goodbye to the nurse in the living area and went out.
“Hey,” Jaime said, leaning on the wall.
She shut the door and leaned on the opposite wall, facing Jaime. Her thoughts, which had been in turmoil just seconds earlier, went still. Peace descended on her and she thought of nothing else except how handsome and sexy Jaime looked.
He had removed the Santa suit and was wearing a white T-shirt that clung to his barrel of a chest. She longed to rest her head on him and have him wrap his arms around her.
“How did you know where to find me?” she asked him.
“If you’re not in the family room, this is usually the next best bet,” Jaime said.
“There is somewhere else,” Ariana said. “Come, I’ll show you.” She led the way to the stairs and up to her studio.
She flung the door open and stepped into the room, flooded by moonlight, bathing her studio in a silvery white glow.
Jaime followed her in and stood in the middle of the room. “Is this where all the magic happens?”
“Used to happen,” Ariana corrected.
“It will happen again. It’s been waiting for you to be ready,” Jaime said softly. “That is the one thing that no one can take away from you. Even you can’t take it away from yourself.”
Emotion swelled in her chest. “How do you always know the right thing to say?” Her voice cracked on the last word.
As quick as a flash, Jaime was standing in front of her, slipping his hands around her waist and pulling her close. She looped her hands around his neck, their bodies pressed together.
“I’m glad I say the right things to you,” Jaime said. “Do you know just how beautiful you are?”
She smiled in response and rose on her tiptoes to kiss him lightly on his mouth. His scent filled her head as he brought his mouth to hers and captured her mouth into a deep kiss. It felt as though he had thrown her into the deep end without warning, as her passion erupted.
Her skin heated up and her toes tingled as Jaime kissed her long and deep. She felt too hot, as if she had immersed herself in a bath that had suddenly increased in temperature. She threaded her hands though his silk hair and allowed her hands to roam over his shoulders and back.
“Oh Ariana,” Jaime growled minutes or hours later. Ariana had no idea how much time had passed. Instead of letting her go, he took her right hand into hers and began a slow dance to music only they could hear.
“Do you like this song?” Jaime asked.
“I love it,” Ariana said. “Except that I don’t know all the words. Could you sing them to me?”
Jaime chuckled. “Of course.” He cleared his throat. He started by humming softly. Ariana hummed along. She went silent when he started signing in a surprisingly nice voice.
“I met this girl, I thought she was the prettiest girl I had ever laid my eyes on. She had soulful sapphire blue eyes that reminded me of the sky on a perfectly fine day. But it wasn’t just her beauty that captured me. It was her laugh, her cry, her heart, her wit...it was everything.”
Ariana had stopped dancing, her attention held by Jaime’s words. The words followed no rhythm or rhyme but they were the sweetest words she had ever heard. He cupped her face gently and kissed her.
“I love you, Princess Ariana,” Jaime said, staring at her so intently she was sure he could see deep into her soul.
“I love you, Jaime Cohan,” Ariana said, feeling as if her chest had been borne open for him.
He kissed her again and then tore himself away with a groan. “There’s a window of opportunity here, where we can leave. If we stay longer, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
She laughed and led the way out of the studio.
Chapter Sixteen
Jaime woke up with a smile for the first time in his life. Usually, he woke up groggy and it took a strong cup of coffee to make him fit to mingle with other humans. He got off the bed and went to the window. He pulled open the curtains and was instantly captivated by the vision of three coat-clad figures making a snowman in the snow-covered garden.
Two of them were obviously Iyana and Cerie, Prince Daxton and Princess Sala’s girls, but he wasn’t sure about the third adult. Then she looked up. He grinned when he that she was Ariana.
He left the window and hurriedly went to the bathroom. Less than three minutes later, Jaime was warmly dressed and on the way to the gardens.
“Are more hands needed for the snowman?” He stood a little way away from the snowman and inspected him.
“Do you like him, Uncle Jaime?” Iyana asked.
“I think he’s gorgeous, but he does need a nose,” Jaime said, and the girls giggled. He turned his attention to Ariana.
She looked gorgeous with her hair tucked into a yellow beanie and her face flushed from the cold. He kissed her lightly on the mouth. “Morning, beautiful.”
“Morning,” she said. “Did you have a good night?”
Her eyes danced as she spoke. He loved how cheerful she was at all times of the day. As if she was aware in every moment how beautiful life was.
“Do the nose Uncle Jaime?” Iyana said.
He grabbed an armful of snow and proceeded to shape it into a long cylindrical shape. When he was done, he pushed it into the snowman’s face.
“Pinocchio,” Cerie said with a giggle.
Ariana and the girls did the final touches, placing a red scarf around the snowman and a matching hat. As Arian was fussing with it, Jaime bent to the girls’ ears and whispered to them. Seconds later, they ganged up on Ariana, throwing snow at her.
“I’m under attack!” she screamed and tried to run and fight back.
Laughter and shrieks of surprise filled the garden as they pelted each other with snow. Jaime followed Ariana’s every move, loving how lithe and fast she was. He liked the different aspects of her personality that enabled her to switch to her inner child and have simple fun.
He imagined a lifetime with her, and knew that his life would never know a dull moment. Ariana sprinkled her joy into everything and everyone she came into contact with.
They played for half an hour and then it was time to go back into the palace. The children ran ahead and he and Ariana followed at a more leisurely pace. As they walked through the many hallways, Jaime realized that he’d gotten so used to seeing palace staff that he no longer felt as though they were an invasion of privacy.
“That was fun,” Ariana said.
“It was,” he said and took her gloved hand into his.
He had never been to Prince Dax and Princess Sala’s private apartments. Double doors led into a nice sized living room, with a fireplace and cozily furnished. On one end was an alcove with a desk and chair where Dax had been working before his daughters interrupted him.
Sala walked in as the girls were telling their dad about pelting Aunt Ariana and Uncle Jaime with snow.
“Just in time for breakfast,” Sala said. “I’ve put some warm clothes on your beds girls.”
The four adults went into the dining room where breakfast was laid out on a side table. They served themselves and sat down.
“Are you two attending the party this evening?” Prince Dax asked as he slathered his bread with butter.
“Party?” Jaime had heard nothing about a party.
“Kyan and Evalla are having a Christmas Eve party tonight. I didn’t want us to go. I want to spare you curious star
es and questions,” Ariana said.
“I’m a big boy,” Jaime said. “I can take it.”
“That’s sorted then,” Princess Sala said.
After breakfast, he and Ariana said goodbye and, as they left, he asked her about her plans for the rest of the day.
“I’m thinking of going up to the studio to paint,” Ariana said.
Jaime nodded. “That’s fantastic, Ariana. I’m proud of you.”
“What about you? Are you going to get bored without me for company?” she said.
“I’m going for a table tennis tournament at the Veterans club,” Jaime said and rubbed his hands together.
He had been pleasantly surprised to discover that the veterans had a club where they regularly met and did stuff like organize to raise funds for a good cause or volunteer their services during emergencies. He felt a kinship with them and he was grateful that they’d invited him into their circle.
Ariana folded her hands across her chest and faced him. “Do you have a decent chance of winning?”
“I’d like to inform you that I have more than a decent chance. I’ve been the MC in all the table tennis matches at Candin Inc, and I can tell you this for free, the competition was fierce.”
Ariana giggled. “An MC? Don’t you think you kind of needed to be playing the actual game?”
Prior to meeting Ariana, Jaime’s ideas of a princess were of a stuffy, detached person. Ariana was the exact opposite of that. She was warm and funny, and she loved to have a good time as much as the next person.
And there were her kisses. They made him want to melt into her soft body and make her his. But he retained control of himself knowing how important it was for Ariana to stay pure until her wedding night. That was the Asencia way and he liked it.
It gave a couple time to explore their relationship without the distraction of physical attraction.
“You’re not listening to me,” Ariana said.
“Guilty,” Jaime said. He glanced down the hallway. It was empty. His gaze retuned to Ariana and dropped to her bow-shaped lips. “I was thinking how much I love kissing you.”
Her breath changed to a faster pace, her chest rising and falling with it. She looked thoughtful for a few seconds, then she took a step forward, right into his arms. “I’d rather you kissed me rather than thought about it.”
Her soft, sweet mouth sealed over his and, with a growl, he wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. Heat erupted from the spots she touched on his shoulders and neck.
His hands molded her hips and went around to caress her back and soft neck. She let out soft moans that let him know that the desire he was feeling was mutual. Jaime was the first to pull away.
They stood staring at each other and breathing hard. Then Ariana smiled and he felt as if a brilliant, beautiful light had been shone at his heart.
He brushed his lips against hers again before turning to leave.
Chapter Seventeen
Ariana cuddled up closer to Jaime in the car on the way to the party. He draped an arm around her protectively. She loved the masculine scent of his cologne that teased her senses and imagination. No man had ever brought out her passionate side as much as Jaime did.
Outside, the weather had changed from gentle snow to wailing winds and darkened skies. Streaks of lightning whizzed across the skies as if gearing up for a storm.
“This is a night for hot chocolate and a fire,” Ariana said.
“We can still do that after the party,” Jaime said.
“Good idea. We can stay for an hour and then leave,” Ariana said. The thought of returning home early and just cozying up by the fire made her sigh.
They left the highway and took a private road that led to the estate where Kyan’s family had lived for many generations back. Ariana looked out the window at the sheep huddled together in the distance. Kyan’s family had been sheep farmers, though now, they had expanded to beef farming as well.
The last time she had been to his home was a week before he ended their relationship. That visit had tortured her weeks after they parted ways. Kyan had taken her to his family home to meet with an interior designer. He’d wanted her to furnish their apartment on the third floor to her liking.
It had been fun picking new furniture from the seats to beds to smaller things like wall hangings and décor. Then a week later, Kyan had announced that he was in love with Evalla, her best friend.
Why had he gone to the trouble of having her pick out furniture and things for their apartment? Unless he hadn’t been sure who or what he wanted. It didn’t matter now. Kyan was the past and attending the party was her way of finally letting go of the past.
Kyan and Evalla were her past and they had no place in her future. The house was lit up in thousands of Christmas lights. The car followed the circular drive and came to a stop at the front of the house.
“Nervous?” Jaime said, his brow creased in concern.
“Not at all,” Ariana answered honestly.
Instead of opening the door, Jaime took her hand. “I know the answer to this but I want to ask nonetheless. The past has taught me to not take anything for granted.”
“Sure,” Ariana said.
“Are you still in love with him?” Jaime asked, a look of vulnerability crossing his features.
Instead of answering immediately, Ariana took a moment to search for the right words. Words that would permanently erase all doubt from Jaime’s mind.
“Once upon a time, I thought I was in love with Kyan only to realize after I met you that what I’d felt was child’s play compared to what I feel when I look at you. What I feel for you, Jaime Cohan, leaves no space for anything or anyone else.”
He stared at her before sliding his hand under her jaw and kissing her, almost roughly. His kiss was raw, his feelings in the movement of his tongue and lips. When he broke the kiss, Ariana simply stared at him, shaken to the core at the strength of emotion between them.
“Ready?” Jaime said, his voice husky.
“Yes,” Ariana whispered.
“Don’t look at me like that or we’ll never leave this car,” Jaime said.
“Like how?”
“As if you want me to take you back in my arms,” he said and turned away to open the door.
Jaime helped her out of the car and took her hand. They walked up to the front door and, before Jaime could knock, the double doors swung open. A uniformed man welcomed them in and took their coats.
Kyan and Evalla stood at the entrance of a small ballroom which Ariana remembered from her earlier visits. Evalla came straight to Ariana and took her hand.
“Thank you for coming,” she said, her eyes beseeching.
A heaviness came over Ariana as she stood face to face with her once best friend. She saw regret etched in Evalla’s features but it was too late for regrets. She had made a choice that had ruined their friendship forever. They could be civil and act friendly but what they had was gone forever.
Evalla had chosen betrayal over their friendship and all Ariana could hope was that Kyan had been worth it. She plastered a smile on her face. “How have you been?”
Evalla shrugged and before she could say anything, Kyan appeared by her side as did Jaime. Kyan kissed her lightly on the cheek before enquiring about her parents.
After they exchanged pleasantries, Kyan turned to Jaime. “A group of us are going bird hunting day after tomorrow. The twenty sixth. We would like it if you’d join us.”
Jaime shifted his gaze to her. “I’m afraid I have other pressing engagements.” His gaze drifted to her lips. Ariana knew what pressing engagement Jaime was talking about. Unconsciously, she parted her lips, forgetting that they were in the midst of people.
Kyan cleared his throat and the moment was broken. “Enjoy yourselves,” he said and abruptly left, taking Evalla with him. Ariana had a feeling that in the future she would not need to dodge their invitations as she would not be receiving any. That suited her perfectly.
&nb
sp; Jaime took her hand and they entered the ballroom. A band on the stage was playing soft music and guests were mingling and sipping champagne.
A waiter held out a tray and Jaime took two flutes of champagne and handed her one.
He raised his flute for a toast. “To the future.”
Ariana smiled, her feelings of loss and sadness forgotten. “To the future,” she echoed, and sipped the cold drink as she held Jaime’s stare.
She desperately wished they were alone. The next best thing was to be in Jaime’s arms. “Would you like to dance?” she said.
He laughed softly and took her almost still full flute of champagne and placed it on a passing waiter’s tray. He took her hand and took her to the ballroom dance floor. His hands circled her waist and she rested hers on his shoulders.
As they swayed to the slow music, Ariana tingled all over as a feeling of anticipation came over her. Something big was about to happen between her and Jaime. A shift in their yet undefined relationship. She knew now what she wanted and she had glimpsed the same from Jaime.
After two dances, the bell for dinner was rung and they all trooped next door to a long dining room with circular tables and chairs set around it.
They made the usual conversation with the two couples who shared their table. Ariana spotted her brother and Sala at the next table and she waved at them. She was sure the dinner was lovely but she tasted very little of it. She ate for show and to get it over and done with and leave for the palace.
Outside, Ariana could hear the rain pelting the roof and thunder that sounded like drum rolls in the distance. A flash of lightning lit up the room in a brilliant white and for a few moments everyone looked like a ghost. Then it was gone and the buzz of conversation continued.
She looked to her right for a few seconds and when she looked back, Jaime was not in his chair. She spotted him across the room and couldn’t understand how he had gotten there so fast and why he hadn’t said anything to her.