Ignite Me (A Burning Desire Novel) (28 page)

“Let’s go baby. We’re already behind.”

Landon was excited and determined to stick to his ninety
minutes deal.

“We’re leaving.” He yelled as he dragged me out.

I couldn’t remember a time when I was happier. Landon and
I were riding along the beach, the spirit was definitely different from Manhattan,
but the decorations made the atmosphere just as magical. Using my hand to
change gear, Landon pulled it to his lips and brushed lights kisses to my
knuckles.

“Where did you go baby?” He asked.

I looked at him, bewildered by how beautiful he was. His
eyes were light and sparkly. He wore a red cashmere sweater over a white shirt
to match my outfit. I sat on my knees and leaned to kiss him on the cheek.

“I’m right here.” I said with a smile.

“I know, but your mind is somewhere else, I could tell.”

“I was thinking about the gift I’m going to get you.” I
admitted, “Also about New York.”

He kissed me hand again, “What about the gift?” He
inquired.

I shrugged, “I’m thinking I should raise the price range,
I have no idea what to offer a man who has it all.”

“Has it all you say?” He raised his eyebrow and smiled.

I poked his shoulder, annoyed by his mocking tone, “Don’t
get all humble-Davis on me. I’m struggling here.”

“Don’t worry Miss Dane. I’m sure we’ll figure something
that suits both of us.” He said reassuringly. I couldn’t help feeling he had an
agenda.

“Tell me what you were thinking about New York?” He
sounded worried. I knew he thought my mind might’ve drifted off to Audrey. I
had no idea how we were going to deal with the whole situation. When we spoke
about it, he’d mentioned that he had to take care of some details with my
security and talk more about the ways he was going to deal with her.

Squeezing his hand reassuringly, I settled back on my
seat, “I was thinking about how I won’t get to enjoy a horse and carriage ride
with you tomorrow.”

I tried to kill my disappointed tone but failed. I knew it
was childish, but it was something I dreamed about doing, and being with him
made it much more appealing.

“Is that it?” He sounded surprised.

“I know it’s stupid, and I might sound like a hopeless
romantic, but I love you, and that is something I was looking forward to before
all the drama.”

Landon bit his lips lightly and I mentally punched myself
for mentioning it.

“Hey.” I poked him again, “We’ll talk about it when we’re
back in New York. We’re together, and that is what matters.”

His face remained hard. My words had absolutely no effect
on him and I hated it.

“Pull over.” I yelled and surprised him.

“Why?”

“Just pull over, quickly.”

I jumped out of the car and ran back to an old man walking
on the highway.

“Hi.” I greeted him and handed him a piece of paper and
some money. “You can either take a cab or call. Merry Christmas.”

The old man stared at me for a long minute before he
nodded silently.

When I turned back, Landon was watching me intently. I
couldn’t read him. I walked to him and pressed my lips against his.

“Let’s go find you a gift Mr. Davis.” I said climbing into
the SUV from his side, giving him a deliberate view of my ass in my silk
tights.

It definitely lightened his mood, and it was all I cared
about.

Once inside the SeaWorld Park, I decided on calling
Brandon and ask him to bring the cavalry to join us. It was amazing, and a nice
thing to do for my little angels. Landon and I booked tickets for the others to
pick up once they got there and went straight to the gift shops.

When inside the shop, we each wondered on our separate
ways to find gifts. I had to go through my crazed state of mind. I bought all
the slippers I could hold for everyone, along with some holiday themed gifts
before I stopped in front of a frame. It was a holiday sale, three for ten.
That was when it hit me. Landon had one picture of mine at his desk, and I had
one. But we were moving in together, and we had none at the apartment. I threw
everything in front of the cashier and asked her for the nearest photo printer.

“There’s a booth at the other end of the store, you can
plug in your device.” She said handing me a multitask usb cable.

I handed her my credit card and once she finished, I ran
towards the machine with the frames. Scrolling down my photo stream, I picked three
photos. I printed one I found on Lily’s foundation website of our first night
together at the charity event in Chicago. I couldn’t help smiling reminiscing
about that night. It was the night I acquired ‘La Courtisane’, and Landon stole
my heart. He looked ravishing in his three pieces tuxedo.

The second one was taken by Ryan when we went on a double
date to celebrate his four years anniversary with Jude. I was sitting on his
lap, and the way he looked at me made my heart skip a beat.

I had no trouble choosing the last one. I was the one I
took with him and my little angels the day he took them to the zoo.

My phone buzzed in my hand; it was a text from Landon.

Where are you?

I typed a quick reply, slid the pictures in the frames,
and walked to the front of the store. Landon was standing in front of the
cashier, patiently waiting for me.

“Hi handsome.” I purred in his ears, “Ready to swap
gifts?”

“Yes, but not here. Come with me.”

I started walking behind him when the cashier girl called
after me, “Miss, your bags.”

“Ooh shit.” I ran back and picked my purchases.

“What is all this? “ He posed.

I shrugged helplessly, “Just some gifts. I’m unstoppable
when it comes to holiday shopping, no matter what my bank statement says.”

He smiled at me and carried the bags, “Let’s go my
shopaholic little princess.”

I cherished the endearment and walked next to him.

We sat on a bench and I sipped my smoothie staring at the
biggest Christmas tree in southern California.

I rested my head on Landon’s shoulder, “This is perfect.”
I mumbled to myself.

“Better than a ride around Central Park?” He whispered
against my temple.

“Much – much better.” I admitted.

As long as I was with him.

Landon slid his hand and entwined our fingers together,
“Jude and I had a long talk on the phone when he was in San Francisco.” He
paused, stirring my attention, “I won’t get into the details, but let’s just
say that I explained the whole situation and what it involves for the future.”

I straightened myself.

“He didn’t apologize for the black eye, but rather
threatened with another one.” He chuckled, “If only he knew.”

I blinked at him, he wasn’t really making any sense, which
was nothing like Landon, “Knew what?”

He shook his head, “It doesn’t matter.” He blurted to
himself

He wrapped one arm around me and I could tell he was
making an effort not to squeeze the life out of me, “I remembered when you told
me about your little Christmas tradition.” He turned to me and caressed my
cheek.

I nuzzled in his hand, inhaling his scent.

“I think I’m a lot like Jenna.” He snorted in disbelief,
“You bring a whole new level to the meaning of friendship. I’ve never seen
anything like it. You are so close and comfortable with the way you feel about
each other.”

I frowned not understanding where he was heading with the
conversation.

“When I say I’m a lot like Jenna; I’m talking about how
jealous she is when it comes to comparing the relationship you have with Jude.”
He paused again. I chose not to interrupt him.

“I mean, god knows how much I care about Eve. She and Alec
are the closest people to me other than my family. But you and those people you
surround yourself with.”

“I’m sure it’s no surprise to you when I say that I am
jealous. I’m jealous of the wind that blows upon your soft pale skin.”

It was too vague for me to understand, “What are you
talking about?”

He turned around and squeezed my hand, “Throughout the
years, I’ve always made sure that I have no weaknesses, not in business, and
certainly not in my personal life, but no matter how much I fought it away.” He
fell silent, his eyes shut close, “It didn’t matter.”

He swallowed, hard, “Once you came in my life, and from
the moment you fell into my arms, you became both.”

I frowned again, “Both?”

He nodded silently, “You are both my strength and my
weakness, Clea Dane.”

Feeling the tears prickling the back of my eyes, I
swallowed the lump in my throat.

“You need to understand. I need you to know that I do
respect and admire your relationship with Jude and Ryan; I can even turn a
blind eye to Andy grabbing you like he did earlier this morning. It’s not about
my competitiveness; it’s about how possessive I am when it comes to you.” He
stood, “It’s about… wanting more.”

Landon slid down to his knees in front of me and I could
swear my heart just jumped out of my mouth and I was left unable to breathe
properly.

 
“It’s about
wanting more than night swaps between our apartments, or you moving in with me
and being able to just go away whenever it gets hard. It’s about a life
changing moment during which…”

Landon strengthened his hold over my hand and grabbed a
silk ribbon, “A moment during which the man, who has everything, realized that
he had nothing if he didn’t have you.”

I was speechless, tears streaming down my cheeks.

He slid the little piece of fabric around my finger, “You
know I’m not one to break rules; and I wouldn’t venture in doing so and giving
you any ideas, no matter how much I like the outcome.”

I laughed over my tears.

“The tradition is about something symbolic and that
doesn’t cost over ten dollars.” He said tying a perfect knot around my finger,
“This ribbon is a candy wrapper, not as sweet as you; nothing is as sweet as
you.”

He kissed my knuckles, “Nothing is as sweet as you when
you’re wet and squirming because of the touch of my hand.” He moved to my other
hand and kissed it, “Or when you’re kissing me with such a powerful passion and
raw hunger, that makes my heart stop.”

He sighed.

“Or when you say you love me. You are so honest and
comfortable. It took you a while, but when you finally said it, there wasn’t an
ounce of doubt in me that you meant it.”

Brushing his fingers over the ribbon, Landon took a hard,
sharp breath, “This is my gift to you baby, it’s a promise that one day, very
soon, I’ll make you mine forever, in front of god and the whole world.”

“Oh Landon.” I cried out, “I love you so much.”

I jumped up and threw myself at him, wrapping my arms
around his neck.

“I love you too baby.”

The words spurred an abrupt leap in my heartbeat; I was
unable to speak past my tears.

“I love you more than words could ever express Clea. You
own me; you own all of me, with or without the rules.”

The fervency in his tone made me grasp him harder. I felt
the blood drain out of my hands and sealed our lips together. My tongue seeking
him desperately.

“Baby…” He cut our kiss, but I pulled him again, holding
onto him. “Baby…” He spoke again inside my mouth, “Will you say yes?” He asked,
fear reverberating through him.

He fisted his hand in my hair, grabbed me forcefully, and leveled
my gaze with his, searching, “When I ask you to marry me, will you say yes?” He
insisted.

When I nodded my answer, I had no ounce of doubt inside
me, no matter how little I knew about him, I knew I will never stop loving him,
“Yes.” I murmured, “Yes.”

“Oh baby.” He finished before kissing me again.

Kissing him, my head spun endlessly, his declaration,
after everything that happened. He loved me. Landon Davis loved me. The words
were echoing in my mind. A strange feeling crept all over me, and I thought
about Audrey again, and the videotapes. There were so many questions I needed
to ask him. I will say yes no matter what he says, I’ll find a way to accept
him, just like I knew he would.

“There they are.” Jenna’s voice was a bare echoing sound
in the back of my head. I was overwhelmed by everything.

“What’s wrong?” She paced to me once she saw me crying.

I shook my head to reassure her, “Nothing is wrong Jen.
Everything is just perfect.” I said with a smile.

“Deedee!” The girls ran to Landon and he grabbed both of
them in his arms.

I browsed behind Alec, Eve, and Simon, “Where’s Jude?”

“He stayed in with the others. We thought it would be a
good spot for the girls to play, while we grab some gifts for the hospital
later. Jude sent you his card.” Eve handed me Jude’s credit card.

She studied Landon and me for a moment, “What’s that? Did
you cut your finger?”

Landon chuckled, “She’s my best student.” He murmured.

I shook my head, “Nope.”

“Is Landon Davis a cheapo? Did he improvise a proposal?”
Jenna joked.

Landon wrapped his arms around me, “Something like that.”

We were suddenly surrounded by a festival of stares and
eyeballs. Jenna chocked on her breath.

“What do you mean something like that?” Alec urged, “Did
you or did you not propose to Clea.”

I chose to put a halt to the growing frenzy, “Something
like that. It’s between us.”

I didn’t mean to sound snarly, but I didn’t want them to
get all inquisitive.

“Well, when you guys are ready to share, I have dibs over
Simon for best man.” Alec high fived himself victoriously.

“What the fuck man? I’m his brother!”

“Fuck.” Jenna spurted, “Do I have to call dibs on Maid of
Honor too, or will it be Jude?” Jenna whined.