I gasp when he hits the ice and doesn’t get back up right away. Until now, the players have seemed like those little kids toys that roll around but don’t fall down. But now he lays there with his leg at an odd angle. The referee blows his whistle and coaches run on the ice while the players stand around the chaos as medics run out with a stretcher.
Once the player is loaded up and hauled to thehospital, the game resumes, but it’s not the same. I hate the feeling in my stomach having watched someone get hurt. I don’t have it in me to gloat at someone else’s misfortune or injury.
After that, the night loses its sparkle and excitement.
• • •
This morning, we woke and had a quiet breakfast of coffee, fruit, and eggs in our room. It was almost like our quiet mornings back at the castle.
We dress warmly but casually, Rhys in jeans, another button down, and a quarter zip sweater pulled over. Me in dark jeans, a green chunky knit turtleneck sweater and a brown houndstooth peacoat.
After breakfast, we’re driven to a small airfield, I nervously look around for our plane but don’t see it. I’m pretty sure we don’t leave for the U.S. until tomorrow but what we’re doing today, I have no idea. Rhys and Craig planned everything down to the letter. Dahlia made sure I was prepared for all of the heavy stuff but now, I’m not sure.
“Umm… Rhys?” I ask hesitantly.
“Yes, hen.”
“Where’s the plane?”
“We’re no’ taking the plane,” he says.
“Then what are we doing here?” I ask.
He points to the top of the building and says, “We’re taking the helicopter.”
We climb out of the car and Leo leads us into the building where we take the elevator to the top floor. The wind whips briskly as we step door onto the roof where a helipad is waiting, complete with helicopter. What kind of helicopter, I have no idea, but there she is, waiting for us.
“It’s a pleasure to fly you all today,” the pilot says as he shakes Rhys’s hand. “All checks are done and we’re clear whenever you’re ready.”
“Great,” Rhys replies happily. “Thanks.”
After that, we’re loaded into the back seat of the helicopter, Leo climbs in up the front with the pilot. Rhys takes his time though, letting his fingers secretly graze the inner seam of my jeans as he buckles me in with the five-point harness. I look at him in surprise when he flicks his fingers against the fabric covering my clit and winks before buckling himself in.
I’m handed a headset to place over my ears and then we’re off. I can’t help theeepI let out when the city passes us by as we head to our next destination which, to my surprise, is Niagara Falls. I gasp as we fly closer to the falls, getting a view few are lucky to have. Rhys places his heavy hand on my thigh and squeezes.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper to the window.
“It is,” he agrees but when I look back at him, he’s not looking out the window, he’s looking at me.
We land at a small helipad where a car is waiting, and we are driven to the observation tower at the falls.We smile for pictures as we walk around outside, our protection team keeping a bubble around us as we stop to look at the falls.
“It’s so steep!” I laugh.
“I won’t let you fall,” Rhys says in my ear as his arms wrap around me from behind.
We watch the water for a bit more and I feel mesmerized listening to the loud whooshing of the falls and watching all the people around us marvel at Mother Nature’s beauty.
“I have something I want to show you,” my husband says before we walk inside the observation tower and head straight for the elevator.
We go straight to the top where someone greets us and says, “Everything is ready for you,” before leaving us in the hallway. Leo opens the door and moves through the small suite that overlooks the falls before nodding silently to Rhys and stepping back outside to hold his post in front of the door.
Rhys leads me into the room and closes the door behind us, locking it. I give him a questioning look as I walk over to where a fruit and cheese platter is laid out for us with bottles of water. I crack one, not realizing how thirsty I am after this morning’s adventure.
“I wanted a bit of privacy with you, hen,” he says as I pick up a strawberry and bite into it. He moves closer to me, almost prowling.
Rhys takes the strawberry from my hand and paints my lips with its juice before popping the other half intohis mouth. I watch him chew and swallow before he grabs me and kisses me, licking into my mouth in a passionate kiss.
“Mmm,” he says. “It tastes better on you.”