Talia's Torment

Chapter 21: Magical places and midnight.

                Talia had just finished doing her hair.  She was wearing the shimmery dress and flats that Tanner had given her and looking at her reflection in the bathroom mirror decided that the up-do had been a good choice.  Her hair up off of her neck and shoulders showed off the dress and her milky skin to the best advantage.  She applied a layer of cherry Chap Stick, apparently she had not thought to ever pack makeup when she packed for her journey here, and smiled at her reflection.  She was as done as she was going to get, hopefully Tanner thought it was a good attempt.

                She was nervous for the first time in a long time when it came to Tanner.  True she had butterflies most of the time she was interacting with him, but this was more like a tornado was dancing around in her chest.  She felt a little of kilter and dizzy as she made her way to the porch.

                Tanner looked up as he heard Talia reach the porch.  His breath froze in his lungs and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.  She had her hair in a twisted up style so it was off her neck and shoulders.  It made the straps of the dress stand out against her collar bones as the thin strips of material went over her shoulders.  He knew the color would make her skin pop in all of its porcelain glory.  The midnight blue and almost crimson edging played against the milky white of her skin giving her an almost ethereal glow.  He was mesmerized.

                Talia stood before him looking as nervous as if they were heading to prom.  When Tanner still hadn’t said anything she seemed to get slightly deflated.

                “Sorry, I didn’t bring any makeup with me when I came here.  I know it isn’t much but I did have Chap Stick.”  She looked down at her feet as though she was afraid to meet his gaze.

                Tanner shook his head to clear his state of mind and walked up to Talia putting his hand on her cheek and forcing her head up to look at him.  “I think you just may be the most beautiful woman I have seen in my whole life.  You definitely don’t need makeup and if you had been wearing any than I would be afraid to do this and mess up all the work you had done.”  With that Tanner leaned in and pressing his lips to hers tried to convey just how much she made him feel.

                Talia giggled a little when he finally freed her lips and allowed her to take in a breath.  She smiled up at him, “Well, in that case where are we going on this date?  I’m not supposed to exist remember?”

                Tanner looked into her eyes, “That is a surprise for you to see.  That is the reason I can’t show you off to the whole world so they can see how lucky I am, and also why I get to spoil you where I will have you all to myself.”  Tanner gave her a brilliant smile and laughed a little when he saw that his words have truly made her intrigued about their destination.

                Talia was definitely excited now.   The way he had looked at her when she first crossed the threshold had her worried that she had somehow disappointed him by not having “put her face on”.  When he had finally spoken after making her look into his eyes all her fears had melted away and been replaced by a joy so bright she thought she may float away.  If she had been plagued by any lingering doubts his searing kiss had definitely cleared them away in a heartbeat.  She was excited to see where they would be having their date now, and she also hoped that wherever it was they had good food.  Give her a break she was starving.  She laughed to herself as she walked to Tanner’s vehicle and he opened the door for her and closed it softly behind her.

                She was eyeing him almost the entire drive.  She couldn’t help but take in the way his clothes seemed to accent his muscles and ridges.  He was wearing a black polo shirt with a short collar and black buttons.  It seemed to be like a second skin, lovingly caressing his abs and biceps.  His hips and legs were clad in a pair of brown khakis that just made her mouth water when she looked at the way they hugged his hips and backside.  For a guy he definitely had a nice backside, she could stare at that for hours and never complain.  Speaking of she shook herself as she realized that Tanner had spoken to her and she had been so lost in her devouring the way he looked that she hadn’t heard him.

                “What did you say?”  She asked him hoping it hadn’t been something too important that she had missed.

                “I said that if you keep staring at me like that I may have to pull this vehicle over.”  He angled his head to give her a pointed look while still paying attention to the road.

                She felt the heat rise in her cheeks again, what was this power he had over her?  She never blushed this much with any other guy, why did he seem to have the monopoly on her face flaming up at practically every word?  It was frustrating and comforting at the same time.  It told her that he was truly someone she had love like no other for, but it was also frustrating at how many times a day he turned her into a strawberry.  At this point she didn’t need to purchase a Halloween costume, she just needed to keep him nearby and wear a green leafy had and all would be set.

                Suddenly they were pulling over, “Tanner, really, the side of the road? I didn’t think you were serious about the car thing!”  Talia looked at him wide eyed.

                Laughing Tanner got out and walked around to her side, opening the door for her.  “No, while that would be fun, we reached our destination.  We have to walk from here. That’s why flats and not heels.”  Tanner reached his hand out to her for support as she hopped down from the passenger seat.

                She looked at the area around them.  It was quiet with lush vegetation all along the road.  Up ahead there was a small almost invisible break in the swaying plants and they started towards it hand in hand.  Tanner led her along a path for what seemed like almost ten minutes before he told her to close her eyes.  She had huffed at him but upon him giving her a look that said she wouldn’t regret it she had caved.

                When she opened her eyes they were standing in a clearing.  The ground was a soft almost billowy mass of moss with patches of violets and buttercups spread around the outside edges.  The outer ring of the clearing was completely made up of Willow trees.  Their branches were sweeping the ground back and forth in the breeze a natural curtain blocking the clearing from view.  Looking up she saw that the tops of the willows were covered in English ivy that seemed to branch from tree to tree as if someone had knitted them together in a hoop.  The moon would shine brightly through that opening and light the entire area with its otherworldly glow.

                “This place is like magic.”  Talia looked around with a sense of wonder.  It was almost like they had walked off the road and into a fairy tale.  She couldn’t wait to see what other surprises he had in store.  Her stomach grumbled reminding them both that she was hungry and her only regret for this magical cove was that there was no food.  Then she noticed that Tanner was carrying a blanket over his shoulder and a basket in his hand.

                “I knew you weren’t human!  No man is that good; you have to be magic right?  I hadn’t noticed you were carrying that basket the whole time.”  She smiled at him eagerly as she realized the wonderful smells she had smelt back at the cabin must have been him preparing the food he had hidden in the picnic basket he was carrying.  She had been so engrossed in the clearing and all its beauty that she hadn’t even registered he was carrying anything with them.

                Tanner smiled at her as he placed the blanket down and helped her to sit on the comfortable cushion of moss underneath.  “What kind of date would it be if I didn’t make sure you were fed?  I’m not magic, unless you consider the magic of distraction.”  He winked at her as he opened the picnic basket and began to pull out all of her favorite lunch items and then with a flourish brought out two individual servings of pie for dessert.  In case we are unclear, pie is the ultimate dessert and cake is in no way anything like pie.  Talia felt her mouth water looking at the slices of homemade Dutch caramel apple pie.  This man had really thought of everything.

                Just then Tanner looked at her, “We will eat, and then when the moon comes out my lady we will have ourselves a dance.”  He gave her an over exaggerated bow as if he was a gentleman from an old fashioned movie.  Talia couldn’t help the giggle as she gave him a slight nod, “Why thank you kind sir.”  They both looked into each other’s eyes and began to laugh in earnest.  This had been just what she needed to break her tension.  She hadn’t even realized that she had been wound so tight, but apparently the ever nearing mission to stop Laurent was taking its toll on her mind and body.  She felt the muscles in her body relax and the tension from her mind and shoulders ease at the thought of good food and laughter with Tanner.

                He was sure going to have his work cut out for him when it came to their next date.  After all, this first one was full of magic and soon it would be dancing at midnight.