His Eyes (16 page)

There was no thought, no words, as I suddenly closed the space between us. My lips were on his and his were on mine. My heart raced while his arms tightly encircled my waist. We kissed for all we are worth, as if we had never tasted anything sweeter. I could have lived forever in that moment. When our mouths grew sore and our breaths came in gasps, we finally pulled apart.

I leaned back and my eyes were caught by his shining glasses. My sapphire irises reflected in the dark depths of his lenses. I reached out and brushed his temple, remembering the bright cerulean. Tristan depths of his lenses. I reached out and brushed his temple, remembering the bright cerulean. Tristan smiled softly and caught my hand. His tone was low when he said, “You’re the one who wanted to look at my eyes.” He held my hand between both of his. “You’re the only one I’ve ever—”

“I love you, too,” I whispered and squeezed his fingers. “But...Tristan? I quit.”

“What?!” came a little boy screech. “After all
that
?” I peered over Tristan’s shoulder to see that the Edmunds had snuck upstairs, onto the landing. Chris was looking particularly indignant, his face red and his arms on his hips as he gaped at the two of us. I couldn’t help but laugh, as I explained, “I mean, I got a scholarship! I don’t have to work for you, anymore.”

“Goodness, you worried me for a second!” Mrs. Edmund complained, but she was still wiping at her teary eyes.

I smiled, but was blushing at the idea that they were watching us. Tristan leaned down to my ear, asking,

“They’re
all
there, huh?”

With a shake of his head, Tristan stepped back, catching the handle and swinging the closet door shut.

He pulled me close and I wrapped my arms around his neck. We were both cocooned in the pitch blackness. I could feel his warmth, smell the cinnamon and sandalwood, and nothing else mattered.

Because even if Tristan had never physically seen me, he’d seen the real me, just like I’d seen him.

A large crowd gathered under the bright Arizona sky. The stands were full and the people buzzed with excitement, as though they were about to see a great moment in history; this was not an average Novice event. On the lowest bleacher, a young woman pressed herself as close to the field as she could. She nervously brushed a strand of auburn hair behind her ear and bit her lip. This was it.

Her sapphire eyes lit at the sight of him. He was the image of dark perfection, sitting proudly in his saddle. The onyx horse beneath him shimmered cobalt in the sunlight. Her breathing grew shallow with anticipation while she watched the two begin. They moved with perfect rhythm, muscles tensing and flexing while they sped forward. Her heart pounding, she too shored herself for the flight.

“Please, please, please,” she whispered, her eyes never leaving the horse and rider.

It happened in an instant.

The gelding braced and, in a movement of ball et-like grace, raised his front hooves. His powerful back legs pressed against the ground and then they were in flight. Time slowed. The young woman’s lips spread into a smile as she watched them soar, as one, over the fence. The moment the horse’s hooves reunited with the earth, the waiting crowd burst into applause.

The rider, hearing the noise, couldn’t suppress a grin. His mind was reeling and he felt as if his heart would fly free from his chest. He had done it...his world was no longer black, but full of light.

About the Author

Even before she could use a pencil, Reneé has been a writer. She began by telling stories to a cassette recorder and using dolls for props. Countless short stories later, Reneé finished writing her first chapter book at age eleven. At thirteen, she developed her writing style through fan fiction novel as and she discovered the power of an online audience.
His Eyes
is Reneé’s first novel. She currently lives in Wisconsin, where she is studying for her bachelor’s degree in English and Web Development.

For information about upcoming projects, please visit:

www.renee-carter.com