THE HONOURABLE MAN

Episode 17

Kiana once again observes her surroundings, there are lanterns, votive and tea light candles placed around the pool and patio. There’s a neatly set round medium sized dinner table a few feet away from the pool, the table has a five arm candle holder as a centre piece and scented fresh flowers. There is soft music playing and the weather is just perfect, the stars are in the sky and everything looks incredibly beautiful and romantic.

Bryce pulls out a chair for her to sit and posing like her waiter for the night he opens the buffet servers to show her the aromatic mouth-watering dishes he prepared just for her pleasure. There is spaghetti with mushroom Bolognese, chicken picatta, roasted vegetables and mussels steamed in white wine and there are also two bottles of Kenwood red and white wine.

Kiana is imprinted and moved by all of it, “you cooked all this?” she can’t believe a man can be this perfect to treat her well, be good looking, wealthy, generous, loving and also a good cook. “Ooh yes I can show you where I hid the dirty pots if you don’t believe me,” he offers.

“That won’t be necessary of course I believe you babe, you have never lied to me. I’m just amazed and very impressed that’s all.” “Let’s eat,” he utters softly as he holds up his fork and knife ready to devour his food. Kiana is satisfied with the taste it’s all very delicious, he is the first man to cook for her but then again he is the first real man she has ever dated.

She is still young and has only dated two guys before Bryce thanks to her focus on her studies, she stayed away from relationships until she finished high school. She only decided to start dating when she turned eighteen and the two boys she dated never got anything but kisses from her.

Bryce has no idea she is still a virgin, he doesn’t expect her to be one not when nowadays girls lose their virginity from the young age of twelve. It doesn’t matter to him if she is a virgin or not, he only cares about who she is and how she makes him feel. Kiana feels like the luckiest girl in the world. She still can’t belief this is happening, that this is her life now. It feels like a dream she never wants to wake up from, “Mr Adams,” she whispers “yes my lady,” he responds in the same soft tone as hers.

“The food was very delicious thank you for a wonderful service,” “you are welcome and if there is anything else you need please don’t hesitate to let me know.” “Wow you are too kind and I really think you deserve a tip, don’t you?” she whispers naughtily as she takes hold of his hand leading him to the patio sofa. Once she has forced him to sit down she climbs on top of his lap and starts ambushing him with kisses.

Bryce can’t have it that way, he has his own plans thus he stops her and the puzzled and disheartened look on her face kills him. “Why do you keep pushing me away every time I try to get intimate with you, haven’t we dated long enough so exactly what are we waiting for?” she gripes.

“Sweetheart it’s not that I don’t want to make love to you, why wouldn’t I? Look at yourself, you are a huge temptation to any man.” “But it certainly doesn’t seem that way Bryce, sometimes I feel like maybe I’m just not attractive enough for you.” “Oh please don’t be silly, come along let’s get inside the house I want to give you your birthday present,” he beams.

She doesn’t hesitate or argue she lets him lead her into his bedroom. It’s her first time being in his room thus her eyes dart around. The bed looks very comfy, after scanning everything else in the room she takes another look at the bed and that’s when she notices the huge and cutest teddy bear about the size of a continental pillow.

There is also a huge box neatly wrapped in pink paper and ribbons she eagerly tears off the paper for she is dying to see what’s inside.

She is perplexed when she opens the box only to find a small box of Godiva chocolates, although they are expensive chocolates it’s not what she expected for a birthday present. “Chocolates!” she grumbles not making an effort to hide her disappointment.

“Not just any chocolates Barbie, it’s one of the tastiest and expensive chocolates in the world, so go ahead and taste one,” he insists as he forces one piece into her mouth. “Just make sure you melt it in your mouth to savour the taste don’t try to chew or swallow it okay,” he instructs. She has chocolate stuck in her mouth so she can only respond by nodding her head.

He fixates on her like a hawk so as to not miss her reaction, indeed the chocolate is the most delicious she has ever tasted but as it melts away her tongue begins to feel something strange she spits out the contents into the palm of her hand. Her eyes tear up as she gapes at the three stone one carat diamond ring which leaves her dumb struck.

He takes the ring from her hand and gets down on one bended knee. At that very moment tears roll down from her eyes she cannot believe what is happening, she has never expected this from Bryce at least not so soon. “I haven’t told you this before but you have made me feel things I have never felt before, I have asked myself what this overwhelming and consuming feeling is until I realised this is what love feels like. I’m so in love with you Kiana Ray,” he pauses for a brief moment before continuing, “will you make me the happiest man on earth and say you will be my wife, will you marry me Barbie?”

His heart throbs as he hopes and prays she will say yes because if she doesn’t he won’t know where to go from there. If she says yes then tonight he is giving her all of him and he is taking all of her. He never wanted to sleep with her until he made it clear to her that he loves her and wants her in his life forever that way she would give herself freely and completely without ever doubting his intentions or where she stands with him. If she does say yes, then he will be making love to his fiancee and not his teenage girlfriend.

Marriage has been the last thing on Kiana’s mind, her plans were to finish varsity, get a job, live in her own apartment and have pajama parties with her friends. Being some one’s wife and fulfilling wifely responsibilities at her young age isn’t something she is sure of. Her parents don’t even know that she is dating someone, she doubts they would even approve of her marrying someone seven years older than her as they still think of her as a child.

The silence makes Bryce nervous and anxious, “Ugh Kiana being on one bended knee for too long is not very comfortable. I need an answer so I can finally get back up on my feet,” he chuckles while trying hard to hide his anxious state.