“Are you trying to impress me?” I asked, awestruck.
“Maybe,” he replied. “Is it working?”
“And then some.”
His eyes were closed and his arms were outstretched, reaching to the sky. His shirt was gone and his body seemed to glow, but that wasn't what astonished me.
He had wings.
Huge, breathtaking golden blond wings that matched his hair. They shimmered like spun gold in the starlight and blew gently in the breeze.
I stood up on wobbly legs and approached him. His eyes stayed closed, but a smile touched his lips. I circled him again, but this time in shock and reverence.
I felt small and inconsequential compared to the beautiful creature that stood before me. Magic hung thick in the air. I walked slowly around him to really see his wings.
“You can touch me, Dixie,” he coaxed. His voice was richer and more seductive. My already weak knees weakened some more. He sounded older and wiser, but I knew he was still Hayden.
I reached out and stroked his wings. He sighed in contentment. They were soft. Softer than cashmere, softer than puppy fur, softer than anything I’d ever touched. I ran my hands through them as tears poured down my cheeks.
“Why are you crying?” Hayden turned his body, his face full of concern.
“You’re so beautiful,” I murmured, stepping back from him. The very air around him was electric. How could someone like him possibly want someone like me?
“Don’t back away from me, Dixie,” his voice was soft. “Not now. Not like this.” He held his arms out to me.
I didn’t hesitate or even think. I ran right into his arms, the only place I ever wanted to be again. The tension left his body as he wrapped his arms and wings around me.
“Would you like to fly with me?” he asked, still holding me tight.
“More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life,” I whispered.
***
Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined what it really felt like to fly.
I laid on his back, my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. I nestled between his downy wings. My heart beat so loudly I was sure he could hear it.
“Are you okay?” he asked. I heard the smile in his voice.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
“We’re not even in the air yet.” He laughed.
“I know.” I was grateful he couldn’t see the blush that had covered my whole face. “It’s just that. . .um, I’m not sure what I’ll dream about anymore.”
“You’ll dream about me, Dixie,” he said so quietly I wasn’t positive I heard him correctly.
His wings expanded with a whoosh. They had to be six feet of gleaming gold on either side. His skin felt hot to my touch and the feeling of anticipation skittered down my spine like little mice. He took several running steps toward the pond and we were airborne.
I shrieked with delight as we glided low over the water and I felt his body shake with laughter.
“Go higher,” I urged, locking my knees around him tighter. His feathers tickled my nose so I raised my head. The view was tremendous.
We soared up like a roller coaster and my tummy dropped. I squealed in sheer terror and joy. The wind roared through my hair and his wings. The ground below looked like a fairy tale, moving and sparkling in the starlight.#p#分页标题#e#
The beat of his wings was reminiscent of a calming metronome. I let one of my hands loose and ran it through his hair.
“None of that, Little Missy. I’ll lose my concentration.”
“Sorry.” I giggled and wrapped myself back around his neck.
The peace and happiness I felt was new to me. I was meant to fly. In my heart I’d always known. I just never knew it would take a beautiful boy with golden wings and green eyes to get me there.
We soared so high the stars were our traffic. Wanting desperately to touch one, I reached out. Although I knew they were millions of miles away, I swear I felt their heat. He rolled and dipped, flying at extreme heights and almost touching the ground. I held on for dear life. Even though I knew a fall wouldn’t kill me unless I got decapitated on the way down, I didn’t want to let go of him. I loved the way his body felt under mine. It was sinful.
We flew for hours. I was positive I’d have no voice tomorrow for all the screaming and laughing I did. The terrain below began to look familiar. We were at my house. He landed smoothly in my front yard. I hopped off, ran around to his front and threw myself into his arms.
“That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done,” I babbled. “It was beautiful and you’re beautiful and I. . .” I stopped abruptly. Hell’s Bells, I was about to tell him I loved him.
“You what?” Hayden bent down so we were nose to nose.