Punctured, Bruised, and Barely Tattooed(56)

She waited to drink the champagne until after she finished the cake. With her first swallow, she could feel the bubbles teasing the back of her nose, and she appreciated the light, fruity flavor of it, but she could still taste what made it alcohol. She didn’t know that she’d ever acquire a taste for it, but she could see why people liked it.

“Thank you, Stone. This has been amazing.”

“Oh, the night’s not over yet.” Tease. “I’ll be right back.” He walked out of the kitchen, maybe to the living room or maybe to the room he used as a drawing studio, but she couldn’t tell for certain. He came back with a small silver box barely bigger than a wallet and sat next to her. “That’s for you,” he said, sliding it toward her.

She shook her head. “Stone, you didn’t have to get me anything. You’ve already done so much.”

“I wanted to.” He tilted his chin toward her. “Open it.” She drew in a slight breath and picked up the box. It was light. As she pulled the ribbon off it, Stone said, “I’ll have you know I had a hell of a time deciding what to get you. You’re not a typical woman, Kory. I didn’t want to get you a piece of jewelry you’d never wear…so I thought about buying you a bunch of iTunes cards, but that’s impersonal. I kept thinking and thinking…and finally figured out what to get you.” As he finished talking, she placed the ribbon on the table and pulled up the lid of the small flat box, curious as hell.

There were several twenty-dollar bills folded on top and she furrowed her brow. What the hell? Money’s not impersonal? She got ready to say so when he told her to open them. She unfolded the bills to find a hot pink sticky note that said, This is for a passport. She was still confused. “How did you know I don’t have a passport?”

“Really? You’re asking me that?” She shrugged. He was right—she didn’t have one. “Keep going,” he urged, and so she lifted out the folded paper that had been underneath. It took her several seconds to decipher what it was: an email confirmation for a flight for two to Paris, France, in late November. “You’re like I am, Kory—you’re not materialistic. So what could I get for you that you would love and cherish? It didn’t take me long to figure it out: A visit to a place you’ve never been, something we can share together.”

Her heart felt like it had hit the floor, because no one had ever done anything this special for her. Part of her wondered if she deserved it. “But…I have school, Stone. I can’t miss a whole week of classes.”

“That’s Thanksgiving week. You have that whole week off from class. I already checked.”

“But—when will I study? That’s right before finals week.”

“We’re only gone Monday through Friday. You’ll still have two weekends to worry about school.”

She let it wash over her then. Oh. She’d never been outside the U.S., hadn’t really traveled much at all anywhere…had never been on a plane. As the reality settled in, she felt a tear threaten to fall. Stone was sensitive, loving, and oh, so perceptive. How had he known? “Oh, God. Thank you.” She moved her chair close to his and kissed him. Then he pulled her into an embrace, holding her to his chest. He had become her safe place, her happy place, and he’d just solidified that spot in her heart for eternity.

“But that’s not all,” he said, the teasing lilt returning to his voice.

By that point, she was completely his. Her smile was as wide as her face and she said, “You know you’re spoiling me, right?”

“You say that like you don’t deserve it.” He took her hands in his and kissed her on the nose. “Come with me.” He led her through the doorway and they went straight for the stairs. She was excited. She hoped they would make love, something that she no longer associated with anything negative, but she knew that maybe instead he would draw a bath in that huge tub in the master bathroom. Or maybe he’d give her a backrub. She had no idea, but she was ready for anything now.

As they got close to the top, she felt even more joyous. Stone knew how much she loved the strings of colored lights in the hot tub room, and so she knew that was why he’d put up dozens of them in his room since the last time she’d been there, and they were on, sparkling and twinkling. She turned around. “You’re crazy!”

“Crazy about you.” He took her hand and led her to the middle of the room, kissing her passionately. Then he said, “Okay. Here’s the deal. I want you to try closing your eyes, but no matter what, you can’t touch me. Okay?”