“What is this place?” I whispered reverently.
“It’s my home,” he smiled and took my hand.
“You live here?”
“Well, not exactly here." He laughed. "I have a house about ten miles away, but this is part of my property.”
“Do you live with your parents?” I realized I knew nothing about his family.
“No, my dad gave up on me a long time ago and my mom is gone.”
His matter of fact tone didn’t hide his sadness.
“I’m so sorry,” I sputtered. “I didn’t know.”
He squeezed my hand and pulled me into a hug. “It’s okay, Dixie. It’s been a long time. I’m good.”
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“I have a brother, but we’re not close. I haven’t seen him in years.” He paused. “This is getting too serious. I’m starting to sound pathetic to my own ears.” He grinned. His mood abruptly changed from pensive to silly. He picked me up and carried me to the edge of the pond.
“If you throw me in,” I threatened. “I will make your life a living Hell for all eternity.”
His eyes twinkled with mischief. “That hadn’t occurred to me, but now that you mention it...”
I wrapped my arms around him in a vise-like hold. If I was going in, he was coming along for the ride.
“Dixie?”
“Yes?” My face was buried in his neck. His scent was making my tummy tingle.
“First of all, I would never throw you in the pond, and second, you’re cutting off my circulation.”
“Whoops.” I grinned and eased up on my hold. “Where’s my dream,—or was that just a story you made up so you could kick my ass in the race?”
He laughed joyously and gently pushed my hair out of my face. “No Dixie, your dream is right here. I simply have to show you.”
“So show me.” I was getting a little nervous. I had no clue what he was going to do.
“Can you keep a secret?” he whispered against my hair.
Little fissions of magic whooshed through my body and I felt lightheaded. I wasn't sure if I caused it or if he did.
“I can keep a secret,” I assured him.
“You can’t tell anyone or question me about it.”
What in Hades was he about to show me? “I won’t,” I said, wondering if this was such a good idea. He was making me nervous.
“Promise?”
“Promise,” I whispered. If he killed me, at least I’d already kissed him.
Hayden put me down and took a few steps back. “Close your eyes, Dixie,” he instructed.
I did.
As soon as my lids shut, an absurd amount of magic filled the air. I’d grown up around magic and power and I knew the real deal when it happened. This was the real deal. I felt raw, alive and alarmed. What in Satan’s name was he doing to create such a strong enchantment?
“Open your eyes.” His voice was deeper and sexier. Like that was even possible.
I slowly opened my eyes and I gasped. This couldn’t be real. I closed my eyes and reopened them to make sure they weren’t playing tricks on me. They weren’t. My knees buckled and I sank to the ground. He was glorious—I’d never seen anything so magnificent in my life.
“Are you trying to impress me?” I asked, awestruck.
“Maybe,” he replied. “Is it working?”
“And then some.”
His eyes were closed and his arms were outstretched, reaching to the sky. His shirt was gone and his body seemed to glow, but that wasn't what astonished me.
He had wings.
Huge, breathtaking golden blond wings that matched his hair. They shimmered like spun gold in the starlight and blew gently in the breeze.
I stood up on wobbly legs and approached him. His eyes stayed closed, but a smile touched his lips. I circled him again, but this time in shock and reverence.
I felt small and inconsequential compared to the beautiful creature that stood before me. Magic hung thick in the air. I walked slowly around him to really see his wings.
“You can touch me, Dixie,” he coaxed. His voice was richer and more seductive. My already weak knees weakened some more. He sounded older and wiser, but I knew he was still Hayden.
I reached out and stroked his wings. He sighed in contentment. They were soft. Softer than cashmere, softer than puppy fur, softer than anything I’d ever touched. I ran my hands through them as tears poured down my cheeks.
“Why are you crying?” Hayden turned his body, his face full of concern.
“You’re so beautiful,” I murmured, stepping back from him. The very air around him was electric. How could someone like him possibly want someone like me?
“Don’t back away from me, Dixie,” his voice was soft. “Not now. Not like this.” He held his arms out to me.
I didn’t hesitate or even think. I ran right into his arms, the only place I ever wanted to be again. The tension left his body as he wrapped his arms and wings around me.
“Would you like to fly with me?” he asked, still holding me tight.
“More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life,” I whispered.
***
Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined what it really felt like to fly.
I laid on his back, my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. I nestled between his downy wings. My heart beat so loudly I was sure he could hear it.