Dark Paradise - Joel Miller x OC

Le temps des cerises

Warning: smut, more descriptive than usual. Slight mentions of their pasts (abusive relationship).

And if you're wondering, nope, I didn't forget to translate the title, it's the name of a song that I was listening to when I got the idea for this chapter. The lyrics are about summer, and summer love, and its atmosphere just fits with what I wanted to for this chapter, I hope you'll feel it. I've inserted Tino Rossi's version because that's one of my favorites, but the one from Tokiko Kato used in Porco Rosso is also very good.

Photo by Giammarco Boscaro on Unsplash

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Horse bridles in hand, she scans the surroundings as Joel turns the old key in the wrought iron gate. He had described a magical place to her, but for now all she can see are weeds growing in the shade of twisting trees. She tries to catch a glimpse of the building, as he growls, pushing against the rusty gate.

The road had gone well, quiet hours riding without meeting living or reborn souls. Of course, she had a lump in her stomach the whole time, despite Joel's soft voice speaking comforting words to her. She was a little reassured when she saw the entrance to the place. A single door, immense impassable walls and above all... Moats. "According to Maria, the owner had a passion for medieval castles," he explained to her.

Although he locks the gate behind them again, she can't help but worry, her fingers clutching the reins of their mounts. He walks over to her and strokes her cheek with the back of his hand.

"Don't worry, we came over with Tommy the other day, we checked everything out. We are safe here."

She nods silently and takes his hand, allowing him to lead her to the cabin. It's a traditional building, in wood and pierced with windows still hidden by closed shutters. She begins to see a part of the lake on the side of the house, as well as colored spots. Flower bushes? Fear flies away to give way to excitement. He suppresses an amused smile and tugs at her hand. He still wants to make the surprise last a few moments.

They enter the still dark house. He stops her in the middle of the room and asks her not to look. She stomps as she hears him bustling around, opening the shutters one by one. In his soft voice, he tells her to open her eyes. She blinks first, blinded by the light flooding the room. When she finally manages to keep them open, she is speechless at the spectacle before her.

Behind the windows stretches a flowerbed in all colors, which only stops to give way to gray sand that disappears into the lake, its water made turquoise by the sun. Leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, Joel admires the result of his surprise with pride. She stammers a few words without succeeding in forming an intelligible sentence. He laughs softly and heads for the bedroom to open the last closed shutters.

She walks over to the patio door, gently sliding her hand over the doorknob to open it, slowly, as though she's afraid it's a dream that a too sudden movement would pull her out of. Her boots echo on the stones of the small terrace. A warm breeze caressed her face and she can't help but laugh happily.

"So, was it worth it to leave Jackson?"

She turns and gives him a beaming smile, a response far more satisfying to him than any of her words. He walks over to kiss her softly, she snuggles into him. They stay that way for a few moments, enjoying the comfort provided by the other. He finally pulled away, nodding to the garden.

"Go ahead, explore your new playground. I'll just go around the fences, check that nothing has moved. "

He places a final kiss on her forehead before walking back to the front of the house. She takes a closer look at the surroundings. Despite the wilderness that has taken over, she can still guess the shape of the old gardens. The owner must have spent a lot of time there. The flower bushes became shrubs, setting the grass ablaze with their vivid colors. On the edges of the land, she sees a few trees, branches heavy with fruits.