They laughed together as he turned back. The sizzle of eggs hitting the hot skillet caused her stomach to make itself known. Hopefully the sounds of cooking covered its growl. “I’m glad you cook. I don’t.”
He glanced back. “That works out fine then. What do you say about breakfast, a trip to the shower house to take care of business, then an early morning ride? I’m thinking I’d like to go back to that stream and see if it has anything to do with my vision changing.”
Dia didn’t allow her reaction to show. She grinned at him instead, hoping he didn’t realize he’d just thrown a wrench into her morning. “What about being ravaged?”
Ryan flashed her a smile. “I’m thinking ravaging in the open air sounds like something I’d like to try. Since meeting you, I’m finding there’s a whole new world out there I knew nothing about.”
You have no idea!
“Eggs are ready! Settle back, and I’ll bring you a plate.”
Dia did as she was told, fluffing up both their pillows before settling back on hers. She accepted her plate and held his while he went back and poured them both glasses of milk, before returning to sit them on the little table at his side and positioning himself on the bed. He winced only a couple of times, so she was hopeful none of his ribs were actually broken.
The food was delicious and they ate in silence, giving Dia time to worry over his request. She loved that he embraced so much so easily, but dealing with her big family was a lot different than accepting there were magical properties in the water that ran from the mountaintop into the lake below. She couldn’t think of a reason she could share with Ryan to dissuade him from his intent, so she tried to think of things she might do to distract him once they were out and about.
“The cave!”
Dia threw a glance at Ryan when she realized she’d all but squealed the location she prayed was her answer. The instant flash of interest in his eyes tickled her.
He is so cute!
Her insides stirred, but she needed to calm down. Eat. Focus. And plan… She took a bite of steaming eggs, sure she’d fixed her immediate problem. He’d get so caught up in wonder of the crystal-filled cave she’d found as a child and had visited many times since, he would forget about everything else. Hopefully.
She turned to Ryan, to tell him more, only to find him watching her closely, making her wonder if she’d been just a little too exuberant. Dia smiled at his quizzical turquoise eyes, thinking she could get lost in them.
Focus!
“You’ll love the cave. It’s filled with beautiful crystals that poke out everywhere. I used to go there and pretend I was deep in the bowels of an ancient castle, and I was the little princess a hungry dragon had trapped there because he wanted to eat her. I’d always run through the tunnels from cavern to cavern hoping a handsome prince would find me and save me from certain doom.” The memory made her smile. “It was so special to me I never told anyone else about it. But I’d love to share it with you. How about we go there first? It’s on the way.” If I make a wide circle around the forest….
Ryan nodded, his eyes filled with pleasure. “Sure. I’d love to see the place where you played as a child. It sounds amazing. We can go back to the stream later.”
Concerned he was so focused on the mystical waters, she nodded, knowing once she had him in the cave she’d make sure they ended up exploring there a good part of the day. Especially if she took blankets and packed them a picnic lunch of fruits and cheeses, threw in a bottle of wine, and made good on her promise to ravage him…at least once. Delighted with her plan, she settled back and finished eating, thinking she could definitely get used to a sexy man serving her breakfast in bed.
It was obvious he hadn’t figured out those waters also flowed through her faucets and that there were many branches of the stream that held the same properties. And she wasn’t about to tell him. Dia slid a glance to her sink then lowered her eyes in shame. She hated she couldn’t share the simple fix to his vision problems, if it really was what had cured his sight to this point.
Ryan took her plate as soon as she was finished and delivered it to the sink for a rinse before he returned and sat back down on the bed, this time facing her. “So, I guess we need to talk about birth control. I gathered from your reaction and our conversation yesterday you weren’t on any, and I obviously didn’t use any.”
The switch of subject took a second to settle and Dia wondered just how long he’d been awake before she. Obviously long enough to cook a meal and think about several things. She shrugged, surprised at how uncomfortable she was talking about it. “I’ve never given any thought to needing any before, so I don’t have anything here.”
“I didn’t expect you to. And I certainly didn’t come here with the expectation of meeting you. So we need to talk about this and consider our priorities for the day. Do we want to hit a drugstore down in town or take more chances?” He grinned at her. “I am definitely not considering the other option.”
Dia frowned. “What other option?”
Ryan looked her up and down and then leaned over and let his lips play over hers. When he was again upright, he pushed her hair behind her ear. “Not touching you.”
Not willing to consider that option either, she gave his question serious consideration. “Maybe we should.”
Looking slightly horrified, he pinned her with his gaze. “Should what?”
Realizing Ryan though she wanted him to keep his hands off her, she shook her head quickly. “Not that! I mean, maybe we should consider birth control, first.”
The subtle blinking of his eyes and the way he suddenly stilled gave away he was surprised by her answer. Were it not for her concern he might walk out of her life once he knew the truth about her and her family, she knew she would have answered differently. Short association or not, she knew he was meant to be hers for a lifetime.
“So you aren’t okay with the possibility you might already be pregnant?”
Dia didn’t know how to answer and not sound stupid. Any normal girl would be horrified at the prospect of an unplanned pregnancy, given they were still only a few days into a relationship that neither had seen coming. Not that she was normal by anyone’s standards. But worse, she had no idea if his desire to be with her was of his own will, or if she had forced it upon him.
“I think we need to wait and see, though I won’t be horribly upset if I am.”
She studied his gorgeous face and couldn’t help but smile slightly at the turn of her thoughts. “A girl couldn’t ask for a man with a better personality and genes than yours, when it comes to co-creating her child. And the fact you are eye candy doesn’t hurt either. But I wouldn’t mind us getting to know each other more before someone else enters the picture. That takes time, and once you get past the newness of it all, you might find I’m not really what you want for a life mate.”
Ryan didn’t respond immediately, instead, the confidence she’d seen growing in their short association seemed to have withered some. He searched her eyes, his own without the happy luster she usually saw. It broke her heart to know she had hurt him, even though it wasn’t her intent. He finally nodded, his brows pulled together, his forehead creased with lines she’d never before seen. She wanted to reach out and tell him none of it mattered, but she still was unable to tell him a direct untruth. So she said nothing at all as he worked out whatever it was he was thinking.
“I guess that could be true for you. I’ve never made a personal decision yet—relying on my gut instincts—that turned out wrong for me. If there is one of us who wants out, it isn’t going to be me.”
Dia moved closer to him and put her arms around his neck. “I really hope that’s true once you get to know me better. Because I can assure you, it isn’t going to be me.”
Ryan pulled her to him and kissed her with passion and purpose. “Then we are both worrying over nothing, but we can go to town and I’ll take care of it. I know logically it’s the responsible thing to do. There’s just nothing
logical about what we have together, and I think that’s a gift most people never get to experience. I love that we found each other for all the wrong reasons, but it feels so right it has to be.”
He frowned and shook his head slightly. “I do feel guilty the purpose I came here for has disappeared and is someone else’s problem, but I don’t want to think about him right now. You’re the only thing I want to think about.
“You are the only thing I do think about.
“I want you in my life. Maybe more than I’ve ever wanted anything. The only thing that has come close to giving me this sense of fulfillment was building the worlds for my games and building this new system. Even as excited as I am about showing it to the world, it doesn’t compare, though. At the end of the day, I turn them off, and there’s nothing but a long list of things I have to work on the next day. But with you every minute is a wonder. If what I feel for you is love, and if that means kids, too, I think it’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Overwhelmed, terrified, she shook her head. “Ryan….”
“No. Please let me finish. You are everything to me, Diamond White. Your beauty stimulates my body, I won’t lie, but that is the least of your appeal. You are fun and lively, sweet and sensual, smell like heaven all the time, and no matter what you believe, you are smart. Your eyes shine with intelligence, and it’s all I can do not to pick your brain every second we are together. You’ve opened my eyes. I don’t look at anything the same way anymore. I haven’t laughed and played so much in my life. I haven’t looked forward to anything like I look forward to waking with you at my side. I’ve never thought about having a family, but after meeting yours I want a big one, but only because they would be yours too. I know I’m talking your head off, and it’s probably all too much too soon for you, but I need you to know this is how I honestly feel.”
Filled with so much love and as a result fear, it took all Dia had not to cry. She wanted everything he’d spoken of as well, but she knew she couldn’t let go and accept what was happening easily. Not until she confessed. And she was too afraid to give him up to take the chance of doing so. Which only left her one option. She had to reverse the spell and pray he still felt the same way…if she didn’t stop his heart while trying to make things right.
Sickened his heartfelt words only proved he was more than likely enchanted, she hugged him to her tightly, afraid to let go. Dia gave herself a moment, glad he was content to just hold her and not demand she respond. She still had a few weeks to live in the light of his love before he would leave Mystic Waters. If having his child or children was her destiny, and all she’d have left if he rejected her down the road, she had no desire for caution now.
Once she had herself under control, she eased back and smiled through watery eyes. “I don’t want to go to town. I want to make us a picnic lunch, take blankets, and my man, and spend an afternoon in my cave. This princess has waited a long time for her prince to save her from that hungry dragon.”
Ryan kissed her softly. “This princess may need the dragon to save her from this hungry man.”
****
Though it had been years since she’d last visited her secret playhouse, nothing about it had changed. Dia figured it likely hadn’t changed in all the years since its formation. The entrance was only easy to find because she knew the land so well, and had made the trip to it often when she was younger. Unlike many children who were brought up in areas where dangers lurked in the shadows and their activities had to be heavily monitored, she, her siblings, and their cousins, had all known complete freedom on Mystic Mountain. Not only because their mothers had placed a dome of protection above it, but also because Uncle Tom, who was in touch with Mother Mountain daily, had asked for her protection over all nine children be assured from below as well.
Ryan wore his glasses while they moved fast through the forest so he could take in the view on either side of them, but he took them off when she’d slowed or stopped to show him a particular plant and explain its medicinal or edible uses. He asked permission each time to gather a sample of those used to flavor food once she’d tell him what had to be done to make it palatable and in some cases non-poisonous. He chatted excitedly about the information she shared and then asked why she didn’t cook with so much knowledge about all he was seeing. Dia’s because I’m lazy got a smile and a headshake from him, but he was too busy searching to seem to care.
He sampled a leaf of sheepsoil and made a face before heading back to the four-wheeler to get his bottled water. Dia grinned while he took long drinks and laughed outright when he decided to reconsider taking that one. She grinned, remembering her own reaction to the bitterness when her mother once added its leaves to a tossed salad to give it a little spunk. Since she and her sisters, as well as their father had refused to eat more than a bite, it hadn’t made it to their table again.
He spoke of his love of mushrooms and, after asking about the possibility of being poisoned, picked several of the haystack-shaped morels that suddenly popped up just a few feet away from where they happened to be looking. The same thing happened when she mentioned nettles and chickweed, both of which rivalled spinach, when he talked about his love for spinach.
Dia almost laughed when plantain popped up, finally realizing mother earth’s desire to please her matched Dia’s desire to please Ryan. Whatever he mentioned he wanted to try cooking appeared, even though it hadn’t been on hand in that exact spot only seconds before. Thankfully, the very wise Mother Mountain was being discreet, and only Dia noticed the novelty of it all. Before they wrapped up his little gathering adventure he made her smile again when he declared he wanted to gather a few fiddleheads just because he liked the way they looked, and he wanted to make sketches to include all he’d found in the backdrop forest of the next mystical game he was now dying to create.
Once they were again flying across the landscape, whatever path she took once again smoothed out for her as it always had, only now she noticed and knew why. The pleasure of being in tune with her birthright made her realize how foolish she’d been to ignore it. With a silent thank you sent to the heavens, she made her way to the hidden opening of her childhood home-away-from-home.
Giant ferns hung from the jut of what looked to be a small cliff to the casual onlooker. What seemed like nothing more than plants growing downward completely hid the cave’s entrance and was what had kept the secret place only hers all these years. Excitement stirred as she pulled to a stop and waited for Ryan to dismount. When she joined him beside their transportation, she took his hands and looked deeply into his eyes, her own filling with tears. “If you ever decide you don’t really love me, at least remember this day.”
The concern in his eyes bespoke his confusion. “I don’t know why you think it’s possible I’ll stop loving you. I won’t. I don’t know how to convince you.”
Dia nodded, wishing she could believe as strongly, knowing to say more would only ruin what could be nothing more than a happy memory for them both, once everything came to light. If all else failed and she had to confess, she had no idea how things would end for them. Though she hated to think it, Dia knew there was the possibility she’d be forced to have her mother wipe his memory. If that was the case, she could only pray somehow these moments, on this day, would linger, even if only in his dreams.
She made herself smile as she untied their picnic basket and blankets from the back and handed each to him, before taking the flashlight she always kept handy in the four-wheeler’s cubby. Embracing the moment for all it was worth, she smiled at him. “Follow me, but stay close. I don’t want to lose you in here.”
Ryan looked up, his brows pulled together. “I thought we were going to a cave.”
Dia laughed lightly and turned away. She began the process of parting the broad fronds, though she found she had to be careful to not let him see she no longer had to actually touch them. They parted as soon as her mind formed the thought, even if her fingers hadn’t yet taken the a
ction. Startled, she quickly made the motions as if she was pushing them away and blew out a breath of excitement that her gift, now she’d acknowledged it, was taking on a life of its own.
She glanced back to see if he noticed, but he was too busy looking around and jostling the load she’d placed in his hands. Relieved, she went through quickly and pretended to hold the leaves up when he stepped through to the small cavern she’d always thought of as the cave’s foyer. Darkness engulfed them immediately when the fronds fell back over the opening, and she let it linger only long enough to inhale the scent of moist earth before turning on the flashlight.
“This is just the opening. Follow me, and I’ll take you to my favorite place on earth.”
Ryan nodded. “Lead the way.” He paused and sent her a sheepish grin. “I’ve never thought myself claustrophobic, but I’ve never been inside a cave before either. It’s a little creepy.”
She hadn’t thought of that. “Don’t worry about it. Just let me know if you’re bothered by being here. But I promise, once we get to what I want to show you, you’ll forget about everything else.”
Dia hooked her arm in his and slid the blankets from his arm to hers before draping them over her shoulder and handing him the flashlight. She knew she could walk with no light at all. Her memories mapped out each step she needed to take as if no time had transpired since her last visit.
“Thanks.”
She looked up and grinned at him, seeing the relief in his eyes. “You’re welcome.”
Dia headed straight into the tunnel and he moved with her without hesitation. She was glad the rock formations seemed wider than when she was a kid and then bit her lip when she realized Mother Mountain was again accommodating his needs, this time for space. As they walked forward she reached out her free hand and allowed it to slide across the rock wall to express her appreciation and gratitude. Warmth in her palm was the mountain’s response, making Dia smile in delight.
Unforgettable Heroes II Boxed Set Page 167
