NO WAY.
This can’t possibly be real. I blink a few more times, trying to see if I’m really awake. I am, I’m awake, this is happening. My fingers and toes tingle, my breathing rapid with excitement. I fall back into him; his arms reach around to catch me and he laughs.
“Easy, baby, I got you.”
I’m standing in front of a huge hotel, but it’s what I can see behind it that lets me know where I am, what’s he’s giving to me—THE Castle. Dane brought me to Disney World!!!! I repeat, Dane “are you for real?” Kendrick has freakin’ brought me to Disney “the most magical place on Earth” World!
I’ve dreamt of coming here since I was still scared of the dark; this is truly a lifetime of dreams come true. It just doesn’t seem possible that he sees enough in me to go through all this trouble, but obviously he does, cause I’m standing here. This isn’t about conquering the prude girl; this is an act of real-life chivalry. Walt himself would have been proud to base a Prince on Dane.
“Welcome to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Ms. Walker, and Happy Birthday,” a beautiful young lady at the door says to me. “Shall we get you checked in?”
As if by telepathy, Dane chuckles behind me when he realizes I can’t speak, so he does it for me. “Yes, please, the birthday girl here is still a little sleepy.”
I have no idea what happens next, I simply float along on my cloud, trusting Dane to lead the way. I’m finally able to comprehend that we’re in our room now, and it’s magnificent with lush furnishings—and one bed. My face always gives me away and doesn’t fail now, as evidenced by Dane’s next words.
“I wanted this room for the view, Laney.” He pulls back the drapery and shows me. “They say the castle at night is something to behold, so I wanted you to have that. I have no problem with the couch; you saw how big it is.”
“I won’t have you sleeping on a couch after all you’ve done for me.” I’m Disney-high, so it just pours out of my mouth. “The bed is way big enough for both of us comfortably, no worries.” I move to him and rise to give him a kiss on the cheek, leaving my hand grazing the edge of his face. “Dane, I don’t know what I did to deserve all this, but thank you, so very much. It’s-it’s...well, it’s simply the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t even know how to express it to you out loud.”
He rests his forehead against mine; I love it when he does that. I’ve come to think of it as a gentleman’s intimacy, but still scorching. “So you’re happy?”
Is he kidding? “Extremely. Euphorically. In fact, if I’m asleep, dreaming all this, do not wake me up. Feel free to go with your drug me plan to keep me asleep now.” We laugh together.
“Then you’ve thanked me. I want to make you happy, Disney. It’s really all I think about these days, ‘how do I make her happy?’” Rubbing my nose with his, the words settle between us.
“Well, let me just say, you truly know how to accomplish a goal, and you better find something else to think about, because you will never top this.”
“Is that a challenge?” He smirks, kissing my nose. “Not at all, just a fact. If I could have hand-picked my perfect birthday, or Christmas, or last day on Earth, this would be it. Seriously, where were you when I was 10?”
“Off somewhere, waiting for you.”
Corny? Hell no—mind-bending. I kiss him with everything I’ve got. For once, I go all-in, no thoughts of anything or anyone else on my mind. My hands glide themselves up his neck, gripping his hair, and I lean my body into his. I crave the physical connection to him, this irresistibly handsome, thoughtful man who has mentally morphed with me. I want to climb him and wrap myself around him like a monkey.
He kisses me back, groaning into my mouth, his eager hands hinting a tentative path to my ass, pulling me harder against him. All at once, he pulls back, breathing harder than me perhaps. “Baby, I’m gonna have my head examined later for what I’m about to say, but if we don’t stop, you’re not leaving this room.”
Part of me so badly wants to tell him that’s okay, but only part of me; now that we’ve broken apart I’m able to think more clearly.
“My Disney princess has a lot to see, so let’s get you fed and go hit the sites. Okay?”
I pout a little, just a little, because my little girl heart and my woman libido are still settling their argument, and I kinda feel rejected.
He leans in and sucks on my bottom lip. “Put that bottom lip away, pouty. I want you, you know I do, but I want to see you on the teacups more.” He squats down slightly so he’s at eye-level with me and gives me a smirk. “Go get changed, Disney. You know you’re dying to meet Goofy.”