by Bri Clark
He was quiet, waiting for a response.
“I’m doing a terrible job at this. You know I’m a traveled man. That I have been with countless women. I’m no saint, but I’ve never wanted—never needed any woman, or anyone for that matter, like I need you. With you in my life, I feel alive. You make me experience all the emotions Glazier stole from me years ago. I was like an empty, dark universe, devoid of life and light. But now that you’re with me, you illuminate everything I experience. You are my sun, my moon, and my stars. You make up my entire world. I wish you would look at me so you can see how beautiful you are.”
I sensed the undaunted truth in his every syllable. He made me feel things I couldn’t understand, much less communicate. It was all so new to me. Yet, it felt natural. I reciprocated every emotion he felt with the same passion, the same intensity. I accepted the reflection into my memory, wanting to be able to relive this night repeatedly in as much clarity as Glazier would allow.
I answered his plea. I faced my destiny, my heart. He was so achingly perfect. I wanted him to see what I saw when I looked at him, to experience what I felt when he touched me, to undergo the same splendid weakness when he called me Love.
Our eyes met and all sound ceased; the music, the dancing, and even our own words disappeared around us. We released the love and passion each of us carried, the collision enveloped us up in our own dreamlike creation. I felt utter bliss. The only thing that could top what I felt would be his lips on mine. As if reading my mind, he crossed the small expanse and with strong hands held my face as his lips met my own. His hands left my cheeks finding my waist and lifted me to enclose me completely in his circle of love.
All too soon, the music and crowd spilled back into our brief but perfect moment. Before it was completely lost, I looked into his eyes, the same eyes looking back at me, capable of the same danger and the same love and I whispered, “I love you.” Then it was over. He set me down.
His eyes moved from mine to something behind me. I turned to follow his stare. Shae and Collin made their way to us from the other side of the room. Collin wore the same traditional black tie and tuxedo; however, his regal stature and striking features made him stand out among the others. As expected, Shae wore something exclusive to her: an emerald green satin gown with spaghetti straps. It had a high waist stopping just below the bodice. Her brown tresses were pulled up with emerald clips, a matching set of earrings and necklace covered in emeralds, diamonds, and sapphires completed her stunning look.
Shae and Collin were all smiles as they stood in front of us. Shae’s arms reached out to me and we embraced. She pulled back with her dainty hands stopping at my elbows. Her squeal of delight made Henry and Collin chuckle at her eagerness. Collin wrapped his arms around her petite waist resting his head on her shoulder. I admired their relationship, the picture of a happy married couple. Each completely opposite from the other, yet together, they were whole. I hoped Henry and I would have something along those lines, though I knew we weren’t normal people and that made a relationship even more challenging.
Shae’s drawl pulled me from my daydream. “You’re the belle of the ball, Doll,” she declared, making Henry and Collin laugh again. I blushed.
“I disagree, Shae. You are most certainly the bell of the ball, whatever that is,” I replied.
She smiled. “The belle of the ball is the most beautiful, most desirable woman here and that is you. If you don’t believe me, let’s ask Henry. Tell her, Henry,” she insisted touching his arm.
He laughed. “She knows how I feel. Nevertheless, Shae’s right. You’re divine.” He leaned down and nibbled my ear.
I giggled. “Well, Henry is biased. His vote shouldn’t count.”
Shae gasped in mock horror. “Well then, dear, you tell her,” she encouraged her husband.
Collin’s head shot up from her shoulder and the look on his face was priceless. Henry’s bellowing laughter filled the hall. I had to save Collin.
“Okay, you win, I’m a bell. Just leave poor Collin alone.”
Shae looked at him as if realizing what she had done. “Fine, and it’s the belle not a bell.” She beamed, obviously happy with her victory. Collin smiled down at me from his position behind her.
“Thank you, Marie, and I would like to add what my lovely wife forgot to mention about the belle. They are the standard of what a lady should emanate. Your graciousness and humility are so easy, making you a natural lady, a truly rare commodity nowadays. And in answer to Shae’s previous demand.” He cut his eyes mockingly at her. “I need to declare I am biased myself, as my wife’s beauty blinds me from any other woman. However, with that said, any woman who can bring an entire ballroom to a standstill, outshining the host himself, would have to be the belle of the ball in my estimation.”
His words brought a rush of heat to my face.
Henry bellowed again. Collin shrugged and kissed his wife’s cheek. Shae scolded him for embarrassing me.
“Oh, I guess I stole your job,” he responded dryly, making me laugh at the little squint her eyes made. She couldn’t stay mad at him, though, her eyes returning to their normal luminosity.
“I say we dance.” Henry practically carried me to the dance floor. We moved toward the middle; he had explained earlier that couples who chose to dance at a slower pace stayed in the center, allowing the progressive waltz to move at the outside of the circle. Shae and Collin glided onto the floor like pros, moving into the flow of the outer circle with ease. Henry and I chose to stay at the slower rhythm of the middle.
I became mesmerized by Shae and Collin’s movement. It was so fluid; their bodies were joined into one, no longer two separate people. He led her around, swaying, and dipping, back and forth, in and out and around. She followed gracefully, anticipating his move and executing hers with unparalleled grace. I felt Henry’s muscular shoulders tensing under my hand. I pulled my gaze from our friends.
“Why are you tense all the sudden?’
“I was hoping you wouldn’t notice. It’s foolish. I won’t repeat it.”
“Oh no! I had to. Now it’s your turn.”
He cursed under his breath. “It's them.” he mumbled.
I looked around trying to figure out who them was. “Who? Shae and Collin?” I asked bewildered. He rolled his eyes.
“No, it’s them, all the other men here. They can’t keep their eyes off you. It’s making Glazier especially appealing.”
“Well, you’re right about one thing. You are a fool. But you’re wrong about all of the men looking at me,” I corrected.
“How do you figure that?”
“If all the men were looking at me that would include you. But apparently you are so busy noticing all of them you must not be looking at me.” I angled my head and raised an eyebrow.
His faultless smile appeared in response. “You’re dangerous, you know.”
I shrugged, feigning innocence. His gaze fixed on me and never left. I became lost in his arms. Wherever he led me, I followed. Our movements weren’t as fluid as Shae and Collin’s but were united. It felt like we were alone on the dance floor, completely oblivious to any other dancers. I daydreamed this was our life, endless days and nights of bliss, no worries, no missions, no danger. Deep down, I knew it was just a dream. We could never be what Collin and Shae were, but the simple fact that I knew he loved me was enough. I would go anywhere and be anything as long as I had him. We must have danced for hours before I heard the announcement that the orchestra was taking a break. My eyes locked with Henry’s. I looked toward the stage. It was empty, and couples were dispersing to the tables to rest.
My eyes scanned the crowd where I found Abbass at his table gawking at me. I didn’t want Henry to see him. He would become angered, ruining our perfect evening. I held Henry’s hand moving toward the tables as well. He stayed in place, pulling me back toward him. When I turned around to see what was wrong, thinking it was Abbass, he was beaming with his gaze toward stage. I followed the trail wher
e his eyes led to find Collin sitting at the piano and Shae seated on the edge with a microphone. The scene seemed so completely comfortable to them.
I looked up at Henry, puzzled. He refused to look at me, his eyes planted on our friends. I sensed him. He was vulnerable, something I had never felt from him before. A bead of sweat formed on his brow. His hand clasping mine was clammy. My eyes returned to the stage as the piano began to chime melodically through the hush in the room.
Everyone looked up at Shae and Collin. The melody Collin played seemed oddly familiar. Shae began to speak. I noticed Abbass appeared to be furious, but Shae’s drawl distracted me.
“Good evening, everyone,” she cooed to the audience. She was the epitome of refinement.
Collin’s fingers flew softly across the keys, never even looking. His wife held his full attention proving he was blissfully in love with her.
“I apologize for intruding on the band, but as most of you already know, Collin and I are great lovers of music.” Her eyes left the audience to rest on Collin as she spoke his name. A lover’s glance could only describe the look they shared. “And with that, our dear friend Henry Rathbone is as well. He asked us to help him with a little gift for his lovely wife, Marie. You see, tonight is their wedding anniversary, and the always benevolent ambassador agreed to let us assist Henry with his gift.”
Abbass boasted a forced smile. I could sense the anger coming from him, but he hid it well. I glanced at Henry, but he still wouldn’t look at me. The sweat on his forehead glistened now. My eyes returned to Shae.
“Henry asked us to perform a special song that he and Marie share, and we were all too happy to oblige. So, Doll, this is for you.”
The tempo of the melody increased, becoming louder as Collin’s fingers moved across the ivories. The song was so familiar I looked away trying to remember, and then it clicked. They were performing the song we danced to that bittersweet night at the cabin. I looked at Henry, his expression unsure. I willed my legs to stand so I could meet his lips. I loved my gift. I loved him. Ever my valiant warrior, he met me halfway. My previous concern with Abbass disappeared, and the other guests were gone from my mind, leaving just us.
I heard Shae’s voice join with Collin’s rhythm as they performed our song. I broke our kiss only because I had to look upon them to know that it was still them and not someone else. It was like a dream. Shae’s rasping alto was like her, exceptional and soulful. As she unfolded the lyrics before us intertwining with Collin’s strokes on the black and white keys, it was as if she caressed each note, drawing it out to unspeakable heights.
Henry led me across the abandoned dance floor in a waltz. I opened my eyes again. When had I closed them? He leaned down and whispered in my ear drawing my waist closer to his, “This is why I was late. Do you forgive me, Love?”
I nodded, too enthralled to speak coherent words. He chuckled then kissed the inside of my wrist.
The orchestra returned from break, and Shae and Collin excused themselves, but only after a standing ovation. There was no way anyone could deny the pure magic they created. Henry led me to an empty table where our friends joined us.
“So, what did you think?” Shae asked, biting her bottom lip.
I was surprised.
Collin, understanding my shock, explained, “Well, Shae and Henry were both scared you would be embarrassed. You know how they tend to do that to you.”
“And you weren’t?” I asked, teasing.
“No, I knew you would love it. How could you not? Between Shae’s voice, as beautiful as the harps of heaven, and Henry’s utterly devoted love behind it, you had no choice.” He picked up a glass of champagne and sipped.
“It seems Collin knows me best. He’s correct. I was quite pleasantly surprised.”
Shae breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s great, Doll. He just kind of dropped in on us a couple of hours ago. We didn’t get the chance to practice. I wanted it to be perfect.”
“I do have one concern,” I said. Everyone waited as I let my comment hang in the air. “I don’t know how he’ll ever be able to top this gift. I mean, unless of course you perform something new for us every year. It doesn’t have to be with all these people, of course.”
I looked at Henry. His face was uncharacteristically red. We all shared a laugh. He pulled me over from my chair into his lap and whisper in my ear, “Dangerous isn’t even close. I love you. Only you could do this to me.”
His breath in my ear made my neck erupt into little goose bumps, sending a shiver down my backside. He grinned, pleased with my response, and sat me back down in my chair.
We decided to sit out a few dances, enjoying each other’s company too much to interrupt. Henry and I were quiet through most of the conversation. Which was more than fine with us. Collin and Shae regaled us in their fabulous stories. How they met, how they used to perform together, their travels and adventures. Sometimes they would hesitate, as if they’d said something they shouldn’t have. Then the other one would pick up the story where it left off with ease.
I admired their playful banter. I never saw them fight. I would have expected them to bicker, being so different. That they would have at least spat, but from the time I spent with them and their stories, it sounded like it never happened. We were all enjoying ourselves immensely until Abbass approached our table, fixing to do exactly what I was dreading.
“Good evening.” he greeted us. We outwardly returned his politeness.
“I wanted to personally extend my congratulations to the happy couple on your wedding anniversary.”
Henry nodded. I faked a smile.
“I was wondering, Mr. Rathbone, since I was so agreeable to allow you to give your lovely wife such a wonderful gift, if you would reconsider my offer of a dance.” He arched a brow, bent over halfway, and raised his index finger.
“I would, but we’ve sat out the last few because she isn’t feeling well. The Strykers are joining us to keep her company.”
I sensed Abbass’s collective front getting ready to deteriorate. I wouldn’t let him ruin tonight. One dance wouldn’t endanger the mission, our friends, or Henry. I turned to Henry before I spoke, my eyes communicating my apology. He realized what I was about to do, but I was too fast.
“Ambassador, I’ll accompany you for a dance. However, I must stress that it be only one. I’m feeling tired. I’m appreciative of your contribution to my gift.” Which I knew was a lie.
He reached out to take my hand. I hovered my fingers over the top of his palm, putting off his touch as long as possible. I could feel Henry wrestle with control and Shae and Collin’s soft voices trying to soothe him. I couldn’t look back. I knew I’d run to him. I’d run to his waiting arms, and we’d leave this all behind, making a huge bullocks mess in the process.
We made it to the dance floor. I held my body stiff and as far back as possible. Glazier yearned for release as he formed the customary waltz position, right hands interlocked and held up and out, his left hand on my back and mine on his shoulder blade. The music began, and he led our dance. I knew that Glazier was responding to the disgust that I felt for this awful man. It was a sweet temptation to let her have control and humble him.
“You and your husband are quite the pair,” he observed.
I didn’t want to talk, but I tried to maneuver the conversation back toward him. “If I may say so, you and your wife are extremely fascinating. Your wife is beautiful.”
He snorted.
“As a matter of fact how does your wife feel about you dancing with other women?" I queried.
He responded only after another snort. “My wife knows her place. She has no concern over who I dance with or anything else for that matter.” His black eyes communicated exactly what that meant.
“She may beg to differ, because I’m not oblivious to her extreme dislike toward me. Especially with the daggers she’s shooting at us as we speak.” He followed my eyes to the direction of his wife’s furious black glare. She saw him
the moment he turned his head, his glare making her look away.
“You shouldn’t concern yourself with my wife and her opinions. I wasn’t aware of her rudeness. I’ll remind her of her duties as hostess. You have my utmost apologies.”
I started to feel sorry for her, hearing the malice in his voice. Fear for what reminding her meant, so I decided to drop anymore talk of her.
“I hope you’ll forgive me for not attending to you when the horse took off with you. It was probably better for you to be out of this area.”
I noticed how he referred to Berg as a horse; he couldn’t even use his name. I did see an opening for some questioning.
“There’s nothing to forgive. I enjoyed Iceberg immensely. I don’t understand what you mean though, when you say out of this area. I must admit I’ve been confused about recent events.” My attempt at being coy paid off. He took the bait.
