Page 189 of The Perfect Spiral
“I need you to put this on,” he said, handing me a sleep mask. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Seriously? Isn’t the kinky stuff for later?” I teased, trying to suppress another bout of laughter. His brows shot up and his eyes widened at my words. His mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, struggling to form words.
“W-What? No, I-I, are you messing with me?” he stammered, looking adorably flustered. I smiled at him and put the blindfold over my eyes. I leaned back in the leather seats and relaxed.
“I’m messing with you. I’m not the type you can get into bed at the end of the first date. I’m not that easy,” I said, feeling his hand being placed on top of mine. I jumped slightly, not expecting it.
“I know you’re not, baby doll. You were always a tough one. It was so hard to get your attention. I know you’re giving me a chance tonight and I couldn’t be happier that you have.
I’m not going to miss this opportunity, so if you like tonight, I would like to take you out again, because I know I will have an incredible time with you. Don’t answer now, wait until I woo you, then you can answer,” he joked.
Just hearing his voice made me excited about where he was taking me. I brought his hand up to my lips and kissed it.
“What was that for?” he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
“I didn’t want to lean over to try to kiss you on the cheek. I can’t see you, so it statistically wouldn’t have ended up there....”
His laughter rings out, filling the car and making me smile. I bite down on my lower lip, reveling in the sound of his joy.
“You can do it when we get there,” he tells me, his laughter finally subsiding.
“I brought a jacket and your camera with me. You’ll need them, trust me. I’m not telling you anything about where we’re going, so don’t even try asking me, baby doll. I covered your eyes for two reasons.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh, the sound echoing in the car until I feel us come to a stop. The click of his seatbelt releasing and the sound of the material retracting into the side of the car fill the silence.
“Stay there, I’ll come around and help you out.” I nod, hearing the door open and close behind him. The door opens again, and I hear him gather what I assume are jackets and cameras.
Then, my door opens. His hand takes mine, gently pulling me out of the car. I stand up, adjusting my skirt, and feel him guide me out of the way so he can close the door behind me.
He takes my shoulders from behind and guides me forward, then stops. We start moving again until we come to another stop. I hear the ding of an elevator and we step inside. He pushes a button and I hear the doors close.
“You’re not taking me to be sold to the mafia, are you? This sounds like a pretty upscale place....” I joke, hearing a chuckle from behind me.
He kisses my bare shoulder. “I wouldn’t dream of selling you to anyone, baby doll..... I don’t know if anyone would put up with you....” His joke makes me laugh even more.
“Hey! I’d be a perfect trophy wife—” The ding of the elevator cuts me off. The doors open and I feel the chill of the air conditioning on my skin.
Goosebumps rise on my skin and he notices, so he helps me into my jacket.
“I’m going to lift you up now, alright? There are a lot of stairs here and I can’t risk you hurting yourself, baby doll.” He scoops me up bridal style and I yelp in surprise.
“Well, if I said no, you would’ve done it anyway,” I retort, makinghim chuckle. His breath is warm on my face. He’s close, but I can’t see how close he is.
I hear him knock on a door and feel a gust of wind as it opens. He sets me down and once again takes my shoulders in his hands, guiding me forward.
My hair is swept around by the wind and he stops me. I stand there for a few seconds, waiting for him to tell me I can take my blindfold off. I feel a blanket being draped over my shoulders and he stands behind me.
His arms wrap around my waist and he rests his chin on my shoulder. “You can take it off now, baby doll,” he whispers, and I do.
I open my eyes, adjusting to the light, and see the sunset going down in the distance. I look down to see the city bustling about like ants.
“Oh my god... Knox... I-I.... you brought me to the Empire State Building to watch the sunset? Wow.... this is.... Wow.” I stand there, afraid to move in case it’s a dream and I’ll wake up from it.
Tears sting my eyes a little because of how amazing this all looks. I love anything that is natural, and seeing the sunset from one of the tallest buildings in New York is just so perfect it’s unimaginable.
“Wow—” I repeat, “This can’t be real.” I whisper to myself, unable to believe this is right in front of me.
“You like it?” I shake my head no and I feel him tense up behind me.
