Chapter 8
DG felt herself come alive for the very first time as his lips met hers. She tuned everything else out as her senses were sent into overdrive, feeling every inch of him pressed against her. His arms were wrapped tightly around her back as he lifted her off her feet. His lips were soft and tender, gentle at first. But suddenly their kiss grew desperate, like they were finally given permission to do something they were chomping at the bit to do for too long.
She parted her lips and he eagerly slid his tongue along her bottom lip, causing her to whimper. Slipping her own tongue between her lips, she tasted his and they began a passionate dance as she slid her body back down to the ground, enjoying the pleasant friction created between their bodies. Her hands tightened on his shoulders, needing to hold on to something to keep her from floating away. His hands moved instinctively to her hips once her feet were planted firmly on the ground, and she felt her body react to his touch.
Gods, had she known the Tin Man could kiss like this she would have thrown caution to the wind a long time ago. True, she didn't have much to compare it to given the brief, childish romances she'd had in her day, but kissing like this should be illegal. Her body was already on fire and he hadn't even really touched her yet. Her hips rolled towards him of their own accord, and she felt him growl low in his chest. An intense heat ignited between her legs, and all she wanted to do was wrap her legs around this amazing man who was presently taking her to an entirely new realm altogether. Was it possible for sex to transport you to another plane of existence? She believed it was, and he was the one who could take her there.
Then suddenly, a coldness met her lips as she felt him pull away, gasping for air. She opened her eyes to find his cerulean ones burning back at her.
Lost…I could get lost in those eyes, she thought.
"DG, you…you are so amazing," he said breathlessly, his hands tightening on her hips. Her eyes traveled to his swollen lips as her tongue ran along her own, desperate to taste him again. She tried to move in, but he held her back.
"I have to leave, Jeb is waiting for me," he said. "I still have to go."
His words hurt, even though she knew they were true. He still had to go to Central City. Duty called, and off all the things Wyatt Cain was, a dutiful man was one of his most admirable qualities.
"I know," she said quietly, lowering her head as his hands moved to grasp her own.
"DG," he said, lifting her chin to make her look at him. "I am coming back. Soon. Things are different now. This changes everything."
She smiled up at him seductively. "Good, because I think you started something here, and I kind of need you to help me finish it."
Cain growled again and pulled her closer. "Don't think I won't. You're mine now, DG."
Oooh, I like possessive Cain, she remarked to herself. I'm his. Yeah, always was.
"Always will be," she said, squeezing his hands.
He let out a deep breath then kissed her one last time. She closed her eyes and tried to remember every second of that kiss, burn it into her mind to replay over and over while he was gone.
She lifted her hand and flattened the hedges again so he could get out of the maze easily. Jeb was there on the other side of the path, holding the reigns of Cain's horse. The look on his face made them both smile as Cain stood there with DG in his arms.
"Looks like you have some explaining to do," DG said, eyeing Jeb.
"I don't think it will completely surprise him," Cain replied, kissing her forehead.
He took a few steps backward, still holding her hand until her arms was fully outstretched with his own. She felt the heat between their fingertips at their last brush of contact before he was gone, back down the path and mounting his horse.
Cain turned and looked at his princess one last time, smiling at him, tears falling quietly from her eyes before the hedges righted themselves and she was gone from sight.
"Well, took you long enough," Jeb said, shaking him out of his reverie.
Cain smirked at him before turning his horse and bringing him to a full gallop up the hill.
xoxoxoxoxo
DG made her way back through the maze after taking a moment to regroup. Cain was right, this changed everything. Things would be much different now.
She exited the maze and was glad to see that no one was around. They must have gone back into the house to…
"Deeg?" came her sister's frantic voice.
Damn, DG cursed to herself. Almost made it.
"Hey, Az," she said, smiling sheepishly.
"Are you all right?" her sister asked concerned, taking her arm.
DG sighed heavily. "As soon as that man gets his cute butt back here, then yes, I will be all right. Until then, no, I'm kind of feeling crummy."
Az's eyes widened. "What happened?"
DG turned towards her sister, the light dancing in her eyes. "He loves me, Az. He said he loves me."
Az squealed and grabbed DG into a tight embrace. "I knew it, I knew there was something more than friendship there!"
DG laughed and grabbed her sister's arm. "Need to breathe here, Az."
"Oh, sorry," Az said, loosening her arms around her sister before pulling away.
"Yeah, kind of shocked me too. But I couldn't let him leave, not without telling him that I felt the same way."
Az's head leaned to the side as she thought dreamily about her sister's new love. "That is the most romantic thing I've ever heard."
DG shrugged. "I'm kind of new at romance. I mean, I don't have much experience at it. I don't really count the few boyfriends I had in high school back in Kansas as being anything even slightly romantic."
"DG, romance comes naturally when you're in love," Az said. "As long as you two love each other, everything else will fall into place."
DG smiled. "Come on, let's go inside…I could use that drink right about now."
As soon as they walked through the door, DG stopped abruptly as she fell upon the stares of her parents, Raw and Glitch. Kalm was sitting quietly on the steps off to the side drawing on a piece of paper. DG wished she could join him and avoid the questions she was sure were coming.
"My angel, is everything all right?" her mother was the first to ask.
"She is fine, mother," Az answered for her. "More than fine. She is in love."
DG turned and looked at her sister in shock. "Big mouth!"
Az giggled and pulled her closer to their parents. DG looked sheepishly down at the ground, too embarrassed to meet their eyes.
"Oh, DG, that is glorious news," her mother said, wrapping her slender arms around her stunned daughter.
"It is?" DG found herself asking in amazement. Her father chuckled.
"DG, we would be lying if we said we hadn't seen this coming," he said. DG looked at him perplexed.
"Yes, DG, the connection between you two is hard to miss," her mother said, pulling away.
"Raw feel DG's pain at Tin Man leaving," Raw spoke up, his gentle smile still plastered to his furry face. "Raw know true feelings for Cain."
"You could have helped me figure this out a long time ago, Raw. Would have saved me the sleepless nights," DG said, a small smile gracing her lips.
"DG shield herself for long time, Raw only feel confusion until today."
DG reached out and touched his shoulder. "Sorry about that." She sighed and turned back to her parents and her sister, who was giddily bouncing beside her.
"Well, doll, you couldn't have picked a greater guy, despite his constant pessimism," Glitch added. She smiled at him.
"I'm glad to see you still have a lot of Glitch in you, Ambrose," she said.
"He is right, my angel," her mother interjected. "You could not have chosen a more honorable man."
DG's eyes lit up. "Thank you, mother. That means a lot."
"Come, we have much more to celebrate now," Ahamo said, heading towards the dining room. "Ambrose's return and DG's new love."
DG stood silent as she watched the group move to the other room. Turning, she stared longingly at the door wishing with everything she had that it would open and Cain would come striding inside and back into her arms.
"DG?" Az called, peeking her head around the corner. "Are you coming?"
"Yes," she replied, sighing and joining her family.
