Chapter 23 Amber #2
He was leaning forward with those deliciously big hands clasped between his knees.
I quickly climbed to the next level of Wonderland.
Distantly, I saw this was the food area, but right then nothing mattered but him.
He was about to stand when I gestured for him to keep sitting.
I linked my arms around his neck and lowered to kiss him.
He slid those big hands along my hips and then wrapped them around me as he rested his head against my chest.
I felt him sigh against me and whatever reservations I had about loving him tumbled down that path and away from us.
“It’s amazing, Tate.”
“Yeah?” He tipped his head up, his green eyes glowing with pride and happiness.
“Yeah.” I lowered my mouth to his. His scent enveloped me like a familiar hug. Like home and warmth wrapped in soft, slow Sunday mornings. Then he stood and cupped my face, pouring love and all that simmering passion into me without holding back.
Just like that first kiss in the Halloween maze, it stole my breath and shocked my dormant system into life.
Instead of ramping up the kiss, he slowed it into soft brushes before he finally lifted his head. It looked like he wanted to say something, but he closed his mouth and that grin that made my stomach flip tipped his lips up.
“I want you to be the first to see the lights.”
I nodded and took his hand as he led me up to where a horse was grazing. I laughed. “I didn’t wear my riding gear.”
“Think you’ll make do.” He tucked his heavy boot into the stirrup and tossed his leg over the saddle with practiced ease.
“Damn,” I whispered. I didn’t think there could be anything sexier on this man, but him on a horse tipped it over into a whole new level.
He reached down for me and I yelped as he settled me in front of him on the saddle. My legs wide and butt settled right against his thighs. He leaned around me and patted the dark, speckled horse. “Easy, Thunder.”
I twisted in the saddle. No way was that the name of the horse.
“What?”
“Nothing. That’s a great name.”
“Thanks. I had a mare named Lightning too, when I was little.”
I leaned back in his arms with a sigh. What were the odds? They weren’t exactly the most creative of names, but after what I wrote earlier it made me shiver.
“You cold?” He wrapped his arms around my middle and picked up the reins.
“No, I’m perfect.”
“Good.” He urged the horse up the trail, past the large shield that had been up for the last few weeks. I could see armatures and towering structures in the darkness, but there was very little light back here, leaving it pitch black. “Ready?”
I nodded. “You’re killing me here.”
He brushed his lips along my jaw. “Patience.”
He reached into his pocket then the entire field lit up.
My breath caught. I couldn’t take it all in.
The arch above us spelled out Haven Wonderland of Lights in bright, cool LED lights that could be seen from everywhere.
Thunder started a lazy walk through the twinkling lights of the tunnel and when it opened up there were so many things to look at I forgot to breathe.
His hand splayed the width of my ribcage. “Breathe, babe.”
“Holy shit.”
His rumbling laugh vibrated through me.
Towering trees framed the field as if to hold it all together. Fat Christmas ornaments hung in the heavy boughs, each of them glowing softly from the endless strings draped on the branches. There was a distinct path, but there was so much to see I couldn’t take it all in at once.
Massive candy canes hugged the path, leading Thunder forward.
“The road is large enough for the carriages or individual horse rides. I think next year I’ll make sure cars can drive through it, but for now I wanted to make sure it worked.”
“It’s beautiful.”
A massive Grinch waved to us as a lit, blow-up snowman swayed. A line of nutcrackers looked like they were marching as a sugar plum fairy gently glided along a never-ending jump.
Candy canes turned to a fleet of penguins guarding the path as we got deeper into the sea of lights.
Along the top of the hill there were places for photographs. A massive Christmas ornament sat in between a wreath of trees. There was an opening in front so you could go inside and take shots as well.
There was also a nutcracker that was easily ten feet tall.
A Santa station with a sleigh outlined in lights.
Packages in the back also blinked and flashed.
A massive throne-like chair was perfect for photos as well as a visiting Santa in the daylight hours, as well as evening.
In front of the sleigh were the reindeer in all their glory, including Rudolph.
As the Thunder moseyed along the trail, I picked up more details. The Twelve Days of Christmas made up a whole display on its own and there were characters I didn’t recognize that had to be from cartoons or video games. He thought of everything.
At the end of the road there was another tunnel leading to a food and drink station as well as a special ornament that would be something families collected for their tree every year.
Maybe one for our tree.
I turned and met his gaze. “This is amazing. Even better than I could have imagined.”
“I’ve been planning it for so long, seeing it come alive doesn’t seem real.”
“It is. And everyone will love it. I know I do.”
“I was nervous to show you. I wanted it all perfect before you saw it.”
“It was that and then some.” I touched his face. “I love it.”
I love you.
It was right there.
I just couldn’t say it. Instead, I leaned up to kiss him and let my body tell him.
Because that was safer.