Cards of Love: Knight of Swords

“Are you sure you don’t want to go?” I asked.

She tilted her head. “To prom? No. Why?”

“You look so pretty. You must have spent time getting ready.”

She closed the door behind us and nudged me into the living room. “I hung out with Vienna and helped her do her makeup.” She fluffed her hair. “I did this for you.”

Damn, how’d I get to be so lucky?

“You’re beautiful every single day.” My gaze roamed over her body from shoulders to toes again. “But you’re breathtaking tonight.”

“Thank you.” She glided over the carpet and flicked on the ancient stereo. Something soft and sultry came over the speakers. On the rare occasion I had a chance to pick the music I listened to, I usually chose something louder, angrier, and darker. This was light, sexy, and infused with hope.

Fitting because that was how I always felt in Juliet’s presence.

Twenty-Eight

Juliet

“I think those ballroom dancing classes are about to come in handy,” I said.

One corner of Roman’s mouth turned up. “Is that right?”

I offered him my hand he took it, yanking me closer. His hands slid down, clutching my hips.

“Mr. Hawkins, I believe that’s improper form.”

He chuckled and curled one arm around my waist. “Better?” He twirled me away and pulled me back in before I answered.

“Perfect. Those jerks at school would’ve made fun of us for using our nerdy dancing skills.”

He snorted. “None of their opinions matter.”

For several more songs we continued dancing. Nothing more than the simple waltz we’d learned in gym.

“Can we dance like this at our wedding?” I asked without thinking.

Sure, he’d said he wanted to marry me weeks ago but he hadn’t mentioned it again. We were way too young to contemplate marriage, but I couldn’t help it. When I thought of my future I always pictured Roman in it.

His happy grin chased away my doubts. “We can do anything you want at our wedding.”

“Oh, in that case, I want to get married on top of a mountain at sunrise.” I rattled off some other outrageous scenarios and Roman agreed to each and every one.

“Are you just going to spoil me and let me have my way with everything?” I teased.

“Yup. You deserve to be spoiled.” The smile slid off his face replaced with raw desire flickering in his eyes. “I’ll take over when you need me to.”

“That sounds ominous.”

His predatory look only intensified. “I’ll always take care of you, Juliet.”

I made a tsk sound with my lips. “We promised we’d take care of each other.”

“I meant something slightly different.”

He pulled me tight to his body and the hardness pressing into me left no doubt of his intentions.

A flutter of awareness stirred in my belly. “Are you hungry? I made some appetizer type foods and punch.”

“Prom food?”

“I wanted you to have the full experience.”

He threw his head back and laughed. My favorite sound in the world. Roman’s happiness.

“All right then, give me the full experience.”

I led him into the kitchen and fixed him a plate of finger food. Stuffed mushrooms, tiny macaroni and cheese rounds and spinach puffs.

“These are so good.” He grabbed a few more stuffed mushrooms and took a seat at the kitchen table. “Come sit with me. I can’t believe you made all this.”

I had made most of it from scratch. Only the spinach puffs had come from a frozen box.

“Be right there.” I poured him a glass of fruity red punch from a sparkling bowl I’d found in the pantry. Not knowing if he’d be tested for alcohol, I hadn't spiked it.

I set my own plate on the table and handed him his glass. “It’s virgin punch.”

“Good. I’m drunk on you anyway and you need your wits about you.”

Too startled by the second part of his statement, I didn’t have a chance to bask in the first. “I do, huh? What are you planning to do to me?”

His playful expression melted into one of seriousness. “Whatever you want me to do.”

A thrill shot down to my toes. I popped a mushroom in my mouth and thought carefully about my answer.

“What if I want everything?”

He sipped his punch, watching me over the rim of the glass.

“Then I’ll give you everything.”

Twenty-Nine

ROMAN

Things were moving faster than I expected. But it felt right. I flicked a glance at the clock behind Juliet. We had exactly three hours before I needed to be back at the school.

“Roman.” Her soft, husky voice stirred up a storm inside me. “Will you come upstairs with me?”

I practically knocked my chair over in my eagerness to say yes. After a breath, I held out my hand. “Show me the way.”

Every step shook me to my core. We were about to change everything. I’m not sure why I was so sentimental. I just knew after that night, our futures would be forever bound together.

“This is my room,” she said, pushing a door at the end of the hallway open. As I’d guessed earlier, several candles were lit, throwing soft, dancing light over the space.

“You left all these candles unattended?” I teased.

“I was distracted.”

I pushed her hair off her shoulder and kissed her neck. “What distracted you?”

“You.”

“Were you planning on bringing me up here?”

She shivered under my touch. “Is that wrong?”

Some people might think so. Might think we were too young. Or she was too young and I was wrong for her. But fuck them.

We were both seventeen. Had both endured a lifetime of heartaches and disappointments. We understood each other better than anyone else. We belonged together. My need for her was stronger than finally getting off inside a girl. I loved her like I’d never loved anyone in my life. How could that be wrong?

Except for one little thing. The only thing that made me consider waiting.

“Are you sure?” I glanced away. “I can’t stay, Juliet. I want to. If we do this…I want to stay with you all night. Leaving feels wrong.”

She cast a look at me over her shoulder. “How long until you’ll be able to do that?”

Too long. Way too damn long.

I didn’t have to say it. She knew.

“I won’t feel abandoned or used, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Hell, she could voice my concerns better than I could.

I skimmed my hand over her cheek. “I love you, Juliet.”

She turned around and stared up at me. “I love you too, Roman. I want to be with you forever.”

“You’re already the center of my world. You know that, right?”

“And you’re mine.” She turned, giving me her back, and lifted her long, heavy hair. “Will you help me with my dress?”

Fuck yes.