Page 57 of Wreck and Ruin

He pulls back, staring down at me. Street lights brighten the dark parking lot, and a cold, foggy, vapor-like mist escapes our mouths with each breath we take. His long, thick, black woolen coat looks delightfully warm, and all I want to do is snuggle up and hide beneath it, wrapped up in his warm arms.

“Come, I want to take you somewhere,” Ezekiel says, my hand now held in his as he opens the passenger door for me to step inside.

Once he's in the car, he turns up the heat, and I place my hands in front of the vents to warm them.

“Where are we going?” I ask, but he just smiles in answer.

I hate surprises, and of course he knows that, which is why he likes to surprise me all the time.

The city lights blur and twinkle in my side mirror as Ezekiel drives away from civilization, and into the darkness. Before too long, forest trees replace tall buildings, and there's nobody else but him and me on the highway. We start to slow, and he pulls off the highway and onto a dirt road, leading us further into the dark.

It's beautiful.

We haven't left the city in what feels like forever, and I didn’t realize how much I needed a break from it until now.

We pull to a stop, and he gets out, walking around to open my door. My skin immediately pricks with ice-like needles as I take his hand, stepping out of the vehicle and onto the crisp soil.

“It's freezing, Ezekiel!” I say, my teeth chattering behind my lips.

“You like the cold,” he teases, and it's true, I prefer this weather over the warm, tropical temperatures.

We slip through the cover of darkness, and I’m led through a dark forest. I look up at the tree canopy soaring above, and I catch glimpses of the night sky, peaking shyly through the leaves. The glow of the moon shines on the path ahead, and I already feel at home.

The sound of leaves and twigs crunch under our booted feet, causing the late-night wildlife to scatter. Their little patters are rampant as we weave through the forest. I see ahead the beginnings of a clearing, and as we approach the edge of it, my boots dig into pure white sand, luminous beneath the now clear moonlit sky.

Ocean.

The waves are gentle, the salt air fills my lungs, and I breathe in the familiar salted scent, stronger now the forest is behind us.

“This is where I want to be, right here beneath the night sky. No interruptions, just you and me,” Ezekiel says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.

I look further along the beach, noticing a campfire already ablaze, the flames reaching for the night sky as they dance with the cold air, beckoning me. Blankets and pillows lay haphazardly, and there's a large picnic basket open, showing its contents of wine, glasses, and a mountain of various snacks. My stomach growls in response, emotion takes over and I smile in delight at the thoughtfulness of Ezekiel.

A midnight picnic with him is just what I need.

“No clams?” I tease, raising an eyebrow and he laughs, a sound I could die listening to.

“No, Little Siren.God, I fucking hate clams.”

We say nothing for a while, listening to the roar of the waves that caress the shore.

“Ezekiel?” I say, my voice betraying just how nervous I am.

“Yeah, baby," he answers, his fingers brushing through my long hair, a little shorter these days, however, it's still a nuisance.

I look up, staring into his sky-blue eyes, the reflection of the flickering fire glowing brightly in them.

“I wanted to give you something,” I say, not sure what he will think about my gift because it's not at all what someone would call conventional. And somehow, that's what makes it perfect.

“Hey, I brought you here to give you something, not the other way around,” he smiles, rolling me onto my back, hovering above me in the firelight.

We're perfect like this.

Him and I.

My other puzzle piece.

“Oh, you first,” I say, as he presses kisses on my forehead and along my jaw, then down to my neck. His breaths, warm, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to my core. He pulls away, and I immediately miss his warmth as he reaches behind the picnic basket and retrieves a clear container. For a second, I'm not sure what it is that I'm looking at, but when he holds it out to me, I gasp.

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