“Really!?” I squeal excitedly. Shadow and I really connected when he took me to this place, things we tried so hard to achieve finally reached by isolation in the walls of sandstone.
Shadow laughs and shuts off the engine. I climb out of my seat, which takes longer than it should, and look at the house. Even in the winter it is still amazing, its foliage of green barely standing amongst the walls from the cooler weather. The smell of salt is in the air, and the sound of waves is welcoming.
“Here.” I look over and see Shadow holding a silver key. I grab the cold key and look at it, puzzled.
“Why did you give this to me?” I ask, looking back at Shadow who is grinning wildly, his hair blowing in the cool wind. Man, he’s sexy.
“Because it’s the key to our new house,” Shadow says calmly, shrugging.
I look down at the key then back at him.
“Our new house?” I ask confused.
“Our new house,” Shadow repeats. I look toward the beach house and back at Shadow again. I have looked at a dozen houses over the last couple of months and have found nothing Shadow was interested in. I thought for sure I would be stuck in his apartment forever, stuck in his ways. I look back at the house. It’s far from town; the kids and I can play on the beach any time we want. It’s perfect. This is our house. He bought me a house for Valentine’s Day.
I sob, a big ugly gasp escaping my mouth.
Shadow grabs both my shoulders and leans his face down.
“Dani, are you crying because you hate it or love it?” Shadow questions, his eyebrows raised with concern.
I run my hand under my nose, trying to get a hold of my emotions.
“B-because I love it,” I respond, wrapping my hands around his neck. I close my eyes and sniffle some more. “Damn hormones have me an emotional wreck,” I half-joke.
Shadow sighs and hugs me back, chuckling in my ear. He pulls away and holds both sides of my face, causing me to look right at him.
“Let’s go inside our new home so I can claim your body in every room,” he demands. I throw my head back and laugh, knowing he will do just that.
Walking inside the house, it’s just as beautiful as I remember.
There is the kitchen with stainless steel appliances and an island in the middle. To the left of the doorway sits the small living area with an overstuffed tan couch, green and white pillows thrown on it. Next to the sitting area is a bathroom which is just as amazing.
But what I love most about this place is the bed in the middle of the house. As soon as you walk in the front door, it’s the first thing you see. It's a big, sand-colored, four-poster bed with white sheers hanging elegantly along all four sides. The comforter is white and fluffy with lots of pillows thrown across it. In front of the bed are two floor-to-ceiling double glass doors which open to a patio which leads to the beach and ocean. I smile and head toward the bed. Lots of memories were made on this bed.
“We can add on to the house, make it just how we like it. Then we will have the bed moved into one of the rooms,” Shadow says, walking up behind me. He bunches my hair on one side of my head and lightly kisses my neck. I loll my head to the side, inviting him in. I am like the poisonous, white Datura flower, needing the darkness of the night which is Shadow to fully bloom and show my worth. I cannot exist without his shadow cast upon me, just as his darkness needs me to illuminate what beauty he is capable of. It’s just in the eye of the beholder to fully see what is in front of them.
He grinds his pelvis against my ass and growls against my neck in acceptance. My breathing picks up as my hand travels across his cheek.
“Wait,” I whisper heavily, remembering my gift to him.
I pull from Shadow’s grip, his fingers digging deep into my hips trying to keep me still.
“I have something for you,” I remark, laughing. He grumbles and reluctantly lets go as I laugh at his sulking. I head over to the stereo inside the wall and turn it on, Hozier’s “Take Me To Church” playing on a radio station. “I’ll be out in a minute,” I explain, grabbing my bag off the floor and heading toward the bathroom.