Sudden emotion threatened to overwhelm Kassie and she let out a sob.
"Why are you crying?"
Startled, she spun to find Lyght right behind her. Feeling like a fool, she wiped her eyes quickly.
He caught her hand and drew her knuckles to his lips. "Don't hide it. Your tears are precious to me." He stroked her wet cheeks with a soft thumb.
Such a display of vulnerability left her feeling awkward and self-conscious. Until she allowed herself to look into his eyes, and marveled at the reflection of the diamond wonder surrounding them.
He stroked his thumb along her chin. "Do you like it?" His husky tone thickened with worry as though her approval meant everything to him.
How could he ask such a thing? Surely he must know? She swallowed down her emotions. "Like it? Is it possible for someone to not like it?"
His perfect face broke into a smile that demanded she look away or kiss him where he stood.
Kassie could barely contain the ecstatic giggles that threatened to overcome her awe. "Look at it. It's what I imagined the Garden of Eden to look like."
"Perfect." His breath stirred her hair a little. "I told them to make sure it had everything you love."
Kassie's heart ached hard in her chest. She looked at him. Looked at this…being that stole her breath and made her feel like the brightest star in the universe. She wanted to know so many things but worried the questions might dispel the dream.
He suddenly took her face between his hands and turned it up to him. Her heart beat madly as she stared into his intense gaze.
"You're not dreaming, sweetheart." He placed a soft kiss at the edge of her mouth. "I'm real. And I…" he paused and straightened. "…need to talk to you."
Kassie felt a dark cloud of fear slowly encroach on the wonder of it all.
Lyght swiped the air with his hand and shook his head. "Don't. You must trust me, love."
The dark feeling dissipated and she couldn't stop the burst of laughter that took its place. If the situation got any crazier, she would start searching out the hidden cameras. Then there would be no denying the whole thing was some sort of cruel game.
She looked around, her gaze landing on the herbs and vegetables. The bubbly joy from when she first entered the garden flooded her. "I want to cook for you!" The words came on an excited gasp.
Lyght's deep laughter sent a thrill through her. He scooped her up in his arms and spun around, making her squeal. "Cook for me! Like a…" His face slowly grew serious and he set her down. "We need to talk."
"Okay. Inside?" Kassie forced herself to keep her cool, relying on years of ranch life practice. He must really need to talk.
He held his hand out for her to go first. "I'll brew tea for you. I had a special blend prepared."
"You? Fix tea? For me?" The very incredulity of the idea made her stop in her tracks.
He stared down at her, his perfectly smooth forehead puckered with dismay. "You think I can't?"
She laughed and shook her head. "No, I just…" She lowered her eyes, not wanting to get all goofy emotional. "I'm just not sure why you would, I mean I'm…"
Lyght took her face between his hands, startling a small squeal loose, and kissed her like he'd devour her.
A little moan slowly worked its way up her throat and right into his mouth. He answered with a deep rumbling sound, nearly a growl, and his tongue plundered her mouth with a hunger that made her helpless and dizzy. And his scent! How could she have gone without noticing it earlier? A potent combination of spices and citrus and wood, everything she liked and associated with masculinity.
He pulled up and she panted with desperation while staring into his hooded gaze. The things she saw in his eyes only made the universe spin harder. His brows were drawn hard as if whatever emotion filled him caused him great pain.
And there was something else, but she wasn't sure what, only that it stole her breath and left her unbalanced. Power. That's as close as she could come to identifying it. Raw, magical, power. Right in his tongue along hers, in the hungry grip of his hands on her waist. He suddenly took her hand and led her back toward the door she'd come out.
Kassie marveled at the exterior of their little…home? Calling it that seemed like the understatement of the century. But no matter what she called it, there was nothing pretty about it. The surface was a vast chunk of weathered stone, relieved only by the gigantic cut diamond framing the opening they walked through. She gawked when she discovered the delicately faceted wall was nearly two feet thick.
Once inside he led her through another intricately cut doorway. When Kassie froze, Lyght paused and turned to her with a soft smile. She looked around, a single gasp escaping her for every marvel.