Chapter 52
KADENCE
When I told Blaize I wanted a date, she came through. I thought we would have dinner, but instead she set up a romantic picnic on the pier. I never thought I would enjoy something like this, especially this close to the water, but it was perfect. Blaize was secretly a hopeless romantic.
I kicked my leg off her bike, fixing my dress as she took my hand and walked me to the end of the pier. A solid red blanket was laid out with red roses and other things scattered on it. I loved how she put in so much thought to this.
“Did one of the guys protect the picnic while you picked me up?”
“I made Ranger do it.”
I wrapped my arms around her neck and pressed my lips to hers. The kiss was quick and soft, a perfect thank you. “I love it, and I love you.”
“I love you. Dance with me?”
Her fingers slipped into mine. Dancing—slow dancing, that is—wasn’t my specialty, but there was something about the intimacy of this moment that I loved. Spicy dancing made things heated between us, but being held in the arms of the woman I loved ignited a different fire in my soul.
For the first time in months, it was just us.
The world was out there still and the danger was looming, but at this very moment, it didn’t matter.
For a miniscule of a moment, it was just me and Blaize, together and the sound of the waves crashing in the distance.
Who knew the thing I feared the most would create a romantic ambiance between the two of us.
Blaize pulled me closer to her as we started to sway. Slow, quiet rhythm that felt like it belonged to only us. My hands glided up her chest, feeling the steady beat of her heart.
“I want our life to be like this always,” I whispered.
Her eyes flickered, something shifting in her gaze. “I know, princess, and I am working on it.”
She pressed her forehead against mine, and for a moment, we just took each other in.
There was something intoxicating about this woman, and I fell in love with her more and more each day.
She was trying her damndest to protect me and give me everything in life that I never had.
I was eternally grateful to have a love people wrote books about, and the sex life, too.
“We’re gonna be okay,” I murmured. I didn’t know if I believed the words myself, but I had to for right now. Blaize would protect me, but I also needed her to protect herself. “We can breathe for right now without fear.”
“I have you,” she whispered.
My arms went back around her neck, tangling my fingers into her hair as we swayed with the waves.
Maybe slow dancing with this woman would become my new favorite thing.
I loved the way she held me and how I could listen to the sound of her heart beat, but what I loved the most was how vulnerable it made her.
Blaize thought vulnerability made her weak, but I loved seeing this side of her. While I loved how strong she was and how she protected me. This side of her was soft, peaceful, and perfect. She wasn’t wearing her mask when we were like this.
Her breath mingled with mine as our faces got closer. Her hand tightened slightly on my waist as I brought my lips to hers. The kiss was soft and it said everything we didn’t. This moment was ours, and we were here together. I wanted this moment forever, but I would enjoy the time I had with her.
When I pulled back, I brushed my nose against hers. “I love you. Just stay like this with me.”
Her arms tightened around me. “Always.”
I pressed my head against her chest as we stayed like this. This woman truly would give me the fairytale life I always dreamt about, but never thought it would be feasible.
“We’re you always determined to own a sex club?” I asked Blaize as I rested my head on her lap. She was running her fingers through my hair as we gazed at the stars.
“BDSM club,” she corrected. “And no. I knew I wanted to open a strip club because I loved giving women the power to manipulate men out of their money.”
I laughed. “You know, you aren’t the stereotypical club owner.”
“I saw how women were treated when it came to sex work, and I knew women could rule the world, so I gave them the chance. Sex work is work and no one should feel demeaned because they use their body to their advantage.”
“Amen to that,” I mumbled. “If you had to choose something else, would you have a different career?”
Blaize paused for a moment, thinking. “I would be in business still and maybe even have a club still. I like working for myself and providing things for the people who work for me. I would open more foundations though. Right now I can’t because of everything going on, but in the future, I’d like to open a women’s shelter to help domestic abuse survivors and children in troubled homes. ”
“Where were you when I was younger?”
Blaize gave me a forced smile. “Probably killing people. What would you do?”
What would I do? “I would probably go back to school and finish my nursing degree. I really liked it, and I want to work with kids. You know the best people who can see if someone is in trouble are nurses and teachers. If I would have told someone what happened, I could’ve gotten out and my dad wouldn’t have done everything he did. ”
I knew I needed help, and so did my dad. I wanted to try and be happy with him, but happiness never came and everything went downhill as the years went on. “You were a child. You shouldn’t have had to be put in that situation.”
“It happened. I couldn’t fix it. Everything that happened, happened. And as much as I hate how I came here, I met you. The downward spiral came to a halt the moment you finally decided to love me.”
“And I would go back in time and smack myself for being an idiot, princess. I love you and everything we have. You’re perfect for me.”
I beamed, lifting my hand and touching her face. “You mean the world to me, Blaize. I’m beyond grateful that I met you, even if you are pigheaded, but you’re mine.”
Blaize leaned down and kissed me. “Good, because you’re mine, princess, and I am never letting you go.”