Page 74 of King of Tides

He mentioned it and I told him how much I enjoyed the band. That’s when he asked if I had ever seen them live. I toldhim I had only been to one concert in my life. Now here we stand.

“This is awesome,” I breathe.

“You haven’t seen anything yet. Come sit. Dinner is waiting.”

I give his hand a squeeze as he walks me to the table set for two facing the stage and fountain. I find my second wind as we sit. I’m too excited to be exhausted.

“Ready?” he asks as he stares into my eyes.

I nod and food appears before us. In the next breath, the band appears on the stage, but that’s not all. A light show starts within the fountain. As the band begins to play, a water show joins the lights and the music.

I sit in awe as the water and lights react to the sound of the music, changing colors from blue to yellow to red to purple back to blue. Water shoots into the air like mini geysers, randomly raising from various spots in the large square fountain.

“This is so romantic. You always create the perfect dates. I needed this more than you could know.”

“I don’t need to read your thoughts to know what you need. If you need something, it’s my job to make sure you have it. I will always take care of your needs, Billy, and I will do so happily.”

“Thanks.”

I turn my attention to the plate in front of me and smile. A Philly cheesesteak and fries are on the plate, also something I’ve been craving. I may have thought about it when my thoughts were open to him earlier.

I tend to leave them open more often these days. It does help to strengthen our bond. He has been doing the same.

I take a bite of the cheesesteak and groan. This is hitting the spot. My thoughts go to the first time he fed me this meal.

“You used your magic that night. To get the food for me,” I say.

It’s a statement, not a question. I knew it was too good to be true that night. That joint I wanted the food from makes a killer cheesesteak, but never this good.

I look at Ardan and give him a rueful smile. Tilting his head, he studies me. He lifts a brow as I hold my smile.

“What?” he asks.

“I wonder if you’d be as good at this without magic at your disposal,” I taunt.

“I’m even better when I have to rely on only human methods.”

“This I have to see.”

“We have centuries for you to learn all the ways I plan to love on you, my pretty one.”

“There you go again. I still haven’t had a chance for that to sink in. A month ago, I hadn’t planned anything past the next day. Now you are speaking in centuries.

“What does that look like to you? I mean, will I age? I couldn’t possibly keep my career if I’m not going to age.”

“You won’t age, but you can use your magic to make it seem like you have. It is my hope that you won’t want to be an officer forever. Especially once we begin to have children of our own,” he says.

I look down at my plate and allow my thoughts to race. Do I love my career? I love the idea of finally placing cuffs on Candido and seeing him behind bars.

Do I have it in me to give it all up once that’s done? What would I do with my time? Children?

Feeling vulnerable at the thought of children, I allow Ardan into my thoughts. I allow him into my feelings as a child. I allow him to see why I’ve never thought about being a mom.

“My love, you will be a wonderful mother. You nor I will ever leave our little ones without us. They will be loved and protected.If you think my brothers would allow a child of mine to live without love and protection, you have lost your mind.

“Our community will also be there. If there is ever a reason we can’t be there, know, without a doubt, they will be covered.”

“I get that, and I hear what you’re saying, but they would be my kids, my responsibility, mine to protect. I don’t ever want them to feel like I don’t want them or I’m not there for them.”

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