The truck stopped and pulled over at the side of the road. He got out of the driver’s door and marched to her side of the truck. She frowned as she looked around them. This place looked familiar but it seemed to her they parked out of nowhere.
Zach guided her out the door as she stood there looking more like a lost homeless kitten.
“You’re.. taking me into the woods?” she asked.
“Yeah, problem?”
Her expression fell. “I thought.. I thought we’re going to eat.” Her stomach was quivering in hunger.
“We are,” he said. “But I’m not taking you in a place where people can see what’s mine. Not when you’re naked underneath that dress.”
Sighing and slightly uncomfortable, she walked to him. “I hate you.”
“You know you can never hate me, Kitten.” He smirked and pressed his hand against her back to guide her the path.
“That’s what you think, Big Guy.”
“You know what I think?”
She stopped in her tracks and pulled away from him, eyes glaring and arms crossing over her chest. “What?”
He smirked. “I think you’re beautiful when you’re angry.”
“Charming,” she commented.
“You don’t believe me?” He took a dangerous step close to her and she took a step back in return, arms falling down her sides. “You’re afraid,” he said, observing her posture.
How could she not? His devilish eyes were enough to creep shiver down her spine. The tingles were burning her. She took a step back again as he got closer and closer. But then, she tripped over a rock. He caught her in time and used this to his advantage. Her heels broke and he immediately realized she wasn’t into heels.
He crouched down and bent on his knees. He removed her heels. Standing up, he turned around and bent back on his knees. “Come on, I’ll carry you.”
Reluctantly, she neared him and leaned over his back, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders and pressing her body against him. In one swift movement, he lifted her off the ground and held her thighs as she embraced her legs around his lean hips. She settled her head at the crook of his neck and smelled his wonderful scent.
“I’m still upset with you,” she whispered in his ear.
He smirked. “It’s turning me on.”
“Ugh,” she groaned. “It’s supposed to make you feel sorry. Not aroused.”
He lightly gripped her thighs. “Great expectations, Sweetheart. Great expectations.”
Soon after awhile, he carried her further into the woods as he had known the path all his life. The forest was a place of serenity and independence. It was a place for love. So he planned to take her there and define her what love is to him.
She watched the trees and leaves silently as he walked along the way, carrying her on his back. When they reached their destination, she was speechless at the sight that was brought before her. The falls stood at the corner of the tall trees. The rushing water was flowing down and diving down into a stream of clean sea. There was a blanket and a basket placed and prepared near the falls.
It was a picnic.
He lowered her down on the blanket and placed her broken heels at the edge. She carefully sat down and instantly smelled something delicious to eat. She could almost feel her belly screaming and crying for food.
He chuckled, watching her face as she closed her eyes and smelled the air dreamily, the scent of food and fresh air of the woods combining and clouding in the atmosphere. He grabbed the basket and dug inside for warm burgers. He pulled one freshly warm burger wrapped in a napkin and gave it to her.
“Here you go, Princess,” he said, grinning once he saw the way her eyes instantly brightened and lips slightly pouting beautifully. Just then he realized, she was like an innocent child. And it was his weakness. He knew he’ll give her anything when she does that expression on her face. He knew he wouldn’t be able to love someone else. He knew he would always want to take care of her. Like this. And he would always want to be needed by her.
“Thank you,” she exhaled in a breath, quickly grabbing the warm burger and latching her mouth upon it, like a hungry kitten.
“Easy there.”
Mouth full, cheeks bobbed, she looked up at him and said something but he couldn’t understand it. Her voice was muffled like a broken record.
“Don’t talk when your mouth is full, Kitten,” he scolded, disapproving of this attitude of hers. He had watched her eating before. She always spoke with her mouth full. And she didn’t even care.
After chewing, she swallowed the food down her throat and smiled innocently at him. “Sorry.”
Shaking his head slightly, he grinned and took a large bite of his own burger. There was a comfortable silence for awhile. He looked at the surroundings and it was homesickness that surged through him. It had been a long time ago since then. Everything had changed.
“Zach?”
He brought his attention back to her.
“What is it?” Anna softly asked, eyes filled with concern. “You look.. sad.”
He smiled weakly. “This place.. It brings back memories. Good ol’ times.”
He focused his eyes at the falls and she followed his gaze with wonder.
“Sometimes,” he said, “I just want to forget everything. I want to forget terrible things.” He brushed his hand down his face and cupped his stubble jaw.
She scooted closer to him and grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers. She lovingly kissed the back of his hand, caressing her lips softly upon his skin.
“Sometimes,” she murmured, “memories are meant to be longed. And sometimes, memories are meant to be forgotten. It’s your choice, Zach. It’s your choice if you’ll learn from the past. Or run away from it.”
He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her hand, eyes closing at the tingling sensations. “I’m afraid,” he muttered under his breath, “I’m afraid of losing the ones I love. I’m afraid of losing you.”
“Oh, Zach,” she sighed, cupping the side of his face. She had always thought of him as a strong man. One who does not fall upon his knees and kneel down like a coward. But then, seeing him so vulnerable, seeing a glimpse of fear and weakness through his eyes, it made her want to love him more. Although, she wasn’t sure of what she was feeling for him.
Closing her eyes, she kissed him softly on the lips and he kissed her back. The kiss was soft and gentle. Love was in the air and they were melting. He angled her head in sink with his lips and gently pushed her down on the surface of the blanket. Her back flattened on the soft surface of the grass, it felt like lying down upon soft and dreamy clouds.
He pulled away and hovered above her, bracing his arms around her head and looking into her eyes. Burying his head into the crook of her neck, he closed his eyes and smelled her scent. It was comforting. It was home. He felt like she was everything he ever wanted. Like she was the sun and his world was revolving around her.
She closed her eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair, feeling the heat of his breath brushing against her neck and the softness of his lips caressing and burning her skin. He heard her sharp intake of breath, her breasts heaving against him. He pulled back slightly and smirked at her flushed face. Giving her one soft touch of kiss on her nose, he laid down beside her on the blanket and pulled her body to him.
He would have wanted to stay like that forever. Just him. And her. Floating upon soft clouds. Floating in the air. Blue skies painted beautifully before them. Birds singing a sweet melody. Trees dancing around. The sound of water falling and rushing from the corner. It was the most wonderful thing he had felt after a long while.
Sighing, he closed his eyes, dreaming of this paradise and burying it in his memories. Listening to the lullaby that nature was hushing into the wind, the sweet soft music that the trees were whispering to the leaves, he heard her deep breathing that turned even after a few seconds of silence.
He lifted his head slightly and gazed down at her. Curling against him, her head was flattened upon his chest, her braided long hair were trailing behind her. One arm was wrapped on his stomach as if embracing him, owning him. Her eyes were closed so peacefully, lips pursed and cheeks fluffy.
She’s a heavy sleeper, he realized. Like an angel, she’s beautiful and heavenly, even as she slept.
Smiling softly at the sight of her peaceful face, he couldn’t help but think of the first night he came inside her room and touched her. The way she moaned softly as if she was lost in a daydream. The way she stirred and moved on the bed unknowingly seductive and attractive to him. The way her lips were looking so red and inviting. That night, he couldn’t help but kiss her. He couldn’t help but taste her sweetness as he had been aching for her lovely scent.
Laying his head back down, he took a deep breath of fresh air and exhaled. He snaked his hand around her shoulder and gently caressed her soft skin, running his fingers down her delicate arms. The contact was creeping under his skin, sending his blood boiling like a bull in heat. How can one touch of her skin burn him? It was messed up, his life, even before she came. He knew it. But she was putting his broken pieces together again.
Soon, they both fell asleep in a peaceful silence. The sun was fading and the skies were bursting in flames when he woke up. Just as he opened his eyes, the heavens above welcomed him with such a beautiful sight but the smile upon his face fell down once he felt the emptiness beside him. He looked around and a growl escaped his lips, sharp teeth gritting and clenching.
She was gone.