|
|
This site is intended for adults only (18+). Please exit if it is illegal to view adult material in your area. | |
|
Jakarta
stumbled when she and Teague entered the lobby of Castle Phantasie. If not
for his supporting arm cradling hers, she might have fallen over in shock
at the sight that met her eyes. She couldn’t help gazing with childlike
wonder at the Christmas tree dominating the lobby. It must have been
twenty feet tall, but the arched ceiling of the room easily accommodated
its height. Even more
stunning than its stature were the tree’s decorations. Real candles in
brass holders, numbering in the hundreds, dotted the branches. Interwoven
among the lights were thick bunches of white garland, along with antique
ivory and brass bulbs. The angel at the top was too far up to distinguish
its features, but it wore an intricate scarlet and ivory dress. To show up
as well as it did, the tree topper must have been at least three or four
feet in height. She
turned to Teague, giving him an impulsive hug. “This is fabulous,
darling.” When he had promised to give her a Christmas to remember, he
hadn’t taken the oath lightly. He put
his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Strands of her ebony hair
brushed his cheek when he bent his head to kiss her. “Wait until you see
the room. It’s their Deluxe Phantasie suite.” A surge
of excitement filled her at the prospect. As she walked with Teague to
check in, in her mind’s eye, she envisioned yards of soft carpet,
decadent fabrics, and antique furnishings. The
process went quickly, handled by an efficient blond German man who spoke
English with a crisp accent. After taking their pertinent information, he
entrusted them to a bellhop. The young man took The climb
up the stairs seemed to take forever, and she became aware of the chill
that had settled into her bones during the drive from the airport in the
van. Even her new ski jacket didn’t do much to warm her. She
slanted a look at Teague, noting the flush of color in his wind-kissed
cheeks. His hair was damp from the snow that had melted in it. The light
cast by the crystal chandeliers spaced every few feet on the vaulted
ceiling brought out red-gold highlights in his honey-brown hair. He looked
cold too, but she easily thought of ways they could quickly warm up each
other. “Just
this last flight,” said their bellhop several flights of stairs later.
“There’s an elevator, but this is the best way to see the castle.” A couple
of minutes later, she decided it had been worth every single step to
arrive at their room. The young man had swiped an electronic card through
the box mounted beside the ornately carved wooden door and now stood back
to let them enter. “There are only two tower rooms,” he said, as they
slipped past him. “These suites are always booked, sometimes years in
advance.” He
squirmed, appearing embarrassed. “Last Thanksgiving.” She
flinched, abruptly remembering last November had been the first time he
proposed to her. Had he booked this room with the anticipation of
honeymooning here? The
thought was uncomfortable, and she allowed the room’s beauty to distract
her from it. It was a circle, complete with two tall windows that would
have been without glass when the castle was first constructed. The stone
walls could have been original, but they were well maintained if they
were. While
Teague tipped their attendant, Sliding
glass doors, set directly into the rounded side of the outer wall, caught
her attention. Beyond
the glass doors was a balcony. She stepped outside, immediately huddling
deeper into her coat, as the cold wind tried to burrow inside. Her bare
hands instantly felt chapped by the temperature, and fat snowflakes stung
her cheeks. She walked to the thin metal rail and looked down. She
stepped back when vertigo seized her. They were at the highest point of
Castle Phantasie, and the ground was a long way down. From this vantage
point, the mountain framing the castle seemed accessible merely by
reaching out to touch it. She
turned around and went back inside, just as Teague closed the door behind
the man and dropped the electronic key on the gleaming black table by the
door. She went to him, putting her arms around his waist. “This is
fabulous, honey.” Tears welled in her eyes, thinking about the trouble
he must have gone to in planning this trip. “It is
beautiful, isn’t it?” He stepped away long enough to unzip his coat
and pull it off. “Let me take yours too.” She
shrugged off the damp ski jacket and handed it to him. He hung both on the
black coat rack by the door before turning back to her. She smiled.
“Let’s see what’s behind curtain number one.” He
nodded, and they walked together over to the partition that divided the
room. It wasn’t so much a suite as it was a studio, with only one wooden
door, which must conceal the bathroom. Teague slid back the fabric
partitions separating the sleeping area from the sitting room space to
reveal the bedroom. It was sparse, with only a large dresser in the same
gleaming black wood as the rest of the suite, and a rack for hanging
clothes. Only the
bed saved it from being mundane. An image of the two of them rolling on
the snowy white fur coverlet draped over the massive round bed caused her
breath to catch in her throat. She looked at Teague, noting his flush had
deepened, and his breathing was ragged. She knew he was sharing her
thoughts, but that didn’t surprise her. After two years together, their
minds were often accordant. “I’ve never slept on a round bed
before.” Teague
gave a husky chuckle. “You won’t be doing much sleeping for the next
few days, my love.” No, she
didn’t imagine she would. A sigh escaped her, as she found herself
wishing they could just stay in the bedroom. Their rapport was perfect
there, unlike other aspects of their lives. Did he feel it too, that they
were drifting apart? Was this trip nothing more than a last-ditch effort
to salvage their relationship? A knock
at the door interrupted her morose thoughts. “Who’s that?” “Probably
dinner. I requested it be brought to our room tonight, since I anticipated
we would both be tired from the long flight.” He frowned. “I hope that
was okay with you? I wasn’t trying to make the decision for you.” Besides,
Teague wouldn’t be expecting gratitude. For him, offering her a choice
in everything was an essential part of helping her heal. She knew he held
the hope that if she could completely get beyond the past with
|
Books Reviews About
the Author Interactive Just
For Fun Links
|
Excerpt
of A Christmas Phantasie