ATHENA

"Where are you taking me?" I giggle as Alex holds me carefully, guiding me

through the steps because of the blindfold over my eyes.

"Patience baby." His deep voice reaches my ears.

I hear the soft crunch of grass beneath my heels, the chirping of crickets around us, and the faint sound of water nearby.

My heart pounds not from nerves, but from the way his presence always seems to steal my breath.

"I swear if you''re taking me into the woods to murder me-"

"I wouldn''t make you wear your favorite dress if that were the n," he murmurs

close to my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

We take a few more careful steps before he stops.

"Alright," he says softly. "You ready?"

"I''ve been ready since you said get dressed."" I grin under the blindfold.

His fingers graze my cheeks, lifting the fabric with a slow tenderness that makes me hold my breath.

And when the blindfold slips away-

My heart stops.

We''re standing by the edge of a calm, silverke, stars above twinkling like a private show from the heavens.

The water glistens under the soft glow of dozens no, hundreds of floatingnterns spread across the surface, each one glowing like a captured piece of the moon.

Behind us, on the shore, there''s a thick, soft nket spread out under a canopy of lights strung between two trees. A bottle of wine waits in a bucket of ice beside a basket, the whole scene glowing like something out of a dream.

Fireflies dance all around us, their little lights flickering in the air like they''re celebrating something.

"Alex..." My voice catches as I turn to look at him.

I''m speechless. Usually, I''d faint or get a panic attack at the sight of a water body, but this time, my heart is calm, and my eyes are in love with everything they see.fnf80e ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find~novel/fnf80e

It''s almost as if my PTSD was never there to begin with. And it''s all because of this man right here. I''ve always med him for abandoning me that night to drown. I know he didn''t know I had fallen inside the pool, but it felt good having to me someone.

But now that I''m standing here, in the middle of all this beauty. I can''t help but feel like he''s healing every broken piece of mine.

His green eyes watch me, unreadable and intense. "Do you like it?"

"This is... it''s beautiful." I step forward slowly andpletely overwhelmed. "But why so manynterns?"

These must have cost a fortune.

He doesn''t answer immediately. He just walks toward one of the trees, pulling a string gently to send anotherntern drifting out onto the water. Then he turns back to me, his deep voice a low whisper.

"Because you''re afraid of the dark, baby. This was the only way I could get you to see the fireflies."

Thud

Thud

Thud Thud

My heart beats faster and faster.

"And I never want you to feel that way ever again," he adds, stepping close, cupping my cheek. "I want you to feel safe for the rest of your life."

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I stare up at him.

"Alex..."

"You''ve had too many shadows in your life, baby," he murmurs. "So I wanted to give you light. You see how bright and beautiful the scene is. That''s how beautiful and bright you make my life."

I can''t speak. My lips suddenly feel so dry that I can''t move my tongue to respond. My heart swells so much that I''m sure it will burst anytime.

God, I love this man so much.

I step closer, cing my hands on his face as I tilt my head back to meet his eyes.

He''s so damn tall, but right now, I don''t care.

My fingertips brush along his

jawline, and the moment our eyes lock, my breath hitches. My heart is in my throat, my emotions tangled and raw. Words have failed me so I can. Content  s

do the only thin, so

I kiss him.

Not a soft timid kiss but one that holds every ounce of love, heartbreak, anger, forgiveness, and hunger I''ve buried deep inside. My lips crash against his like I''ve been starving for this, starving for him.  s

His hands wrap around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest as he deepens the kiss. He groans into my mouth, low and guttural, and it sends a bolt of heat shooting straight through me.

His tongue slides against mine, teasing, tasting, taking everything I''m giving, and still needing more! fist the fror his shift as the kiss turns hot, messy, and breathless. My lungs burn, but I don''t pull back.  s

Not when his hands are gripping my hips like he''s scared I''ll disappear.

Not when he kisses me like he''s waited a lifetime to taste me.

Only when my knees weaken and my head begins to spin, do I finally break the kiss, panting against his mouth, our foreheads pressed together.

"Fuck! Baby you drive me crazy..." He whispers.

I''m dazed and my lips are tingling while my chest heaves.

I''m about to speak when a sound stops any words froming out of my mouth.

I hear the sweet, haunting notes of a violin drifting through the air, rising like the fireflies that dance around us. The melody wraps around my heart with familiarity and emotion.

I blink, recognition hitting me instantly.

It''s a song he has been ying for me every morning.

"Found You" by Stephen Sanchez.

I teased him about dancing to it under the stars but he took it higher.

My eyes snap to his, and he''s smiling, his usually cold eyes are soft, with his full

smile etched on his face making my stomach twist.

He has the most beautiful smile I''ve ever seen. This man must be God''s favourite because how can you be so good-looking?

He runs a hand through his blond hair as his eyes meet mine.

"Will you do me the honor of dancing with me, beautiful?" he asks, extending his

hand.

My cheeks flush, my heart still fluttering like wings trapped in my ribcage.

"Yes," I breathe, slipping my hand into his.

He pulls me gently into the center of the glowing setup, right by the water''s edge where thenterns flicker like stars, their warm glow reflecting off theke.

The fireflies rise higher into the night sky, little sparks of gold lighting the world around us.

We sway slowly to the music, his arms wrapped tightly around me, my head resting on his chest where his heartbeat thunders as hard as mine.

He spins me slowly, just once, the skirt of my dress fluttering around my legs.

But when I spin back around, I gasp.

He''s not standing where I left him.

He''s kneeling.

One knee down on the soft grass, thenterns casting golden light across his

face, his green eyes locked on mine with so much love it hurts to breathe.

My heart stops.

Literally stops.

"Alex..." I whisper, barely able to speak, my voice caught between shock and emotion.

His hand reaches for mine.

And then he says my name in that deep sexy voice that makes my legs weak.

"Athena."