Life Match

Day Four

Jaycob on the side

The estate is boring. Watching paint dry would be better than staying here. Riah's here too, but we don't do too much together, for my fear that if we start, neither one of us will be able to stop. I love him more than when we started out, but I'm still not sure I trust him enough. There are still times when I feel that I'm still terrified of him, but also the days when it's like that day at the beach, just the two of us, enjoying each other. Ari drops by too, which means we can't leave the estate at all with her, and so the three of us sit around together, collectively bored out of our minds.

Ari is currently stretched across us, her head in my lap, her feet in Riah's, napping. Riah and I fade in and out of the news. A commercial comes on, and Riah leans over whispers in my ear, his breath hot against it.

"We should go someplace."

I swallow, him being this close to me causing my hair to stand on end, "Where?"

Riah carefully tucks his hand under Ari's head and carries her to our bedroom. He places her gently on our bed and tosses a light blanket over her. Then he grabs my hand and we head out into the bright sunlight. We don't go far, only to the vineyard by the house. It smells of fruit, wood, and something else. Riah disappears behind the cellar and comes back with a black stallion.

"Sage this is Blu. I've had him since I was a child," Riah helps me up and the gets on as well.

"I didn't know you had a horse," I say.

"Well I wouldn't if my father had his way. However, nobody but me can ride Blu. He's like me. There's only one for him. Like I only open up to you."

We ride to the middle of a field and he hops down. There's a picnic set for us and we sit and eat. Riah has a bottle of wine and fine cheese and other small finger foods. It's late in the afternoon so we watch a part of the sunset.

"This is the most romantic thing you've ever done for me," I say.

He smiles at me, "May I kiss you, Love?"

I nod and we close the space between us. This is by far the best kiss that we've ever shared. Riah cups the back of my head and pulls me closer, deepening the kiss. When we finally pull away I have to stop the words, "I love you," from tumbling out my mouth. I haven't said it yet, but I know it's true right now.

"Sage, will you run away with me?" Riah asks, taking my hand, "We have to leave in the morning if you say yes."

I search his eyes, "This isn't where you wanted to escape to?"

He shakes his head, "We need to have sex. And soon."

The hairs on my arms stand straight up, "I thought you said-"

"I know but this is taking too damn long waiting for you to be ready. We aren't allowed to leave until-" Riah stops, "Never mind."

"What do you mean 'aren't allowed' to leave?" Riah looks away and the gears begin to turn in my brain, "This has to do with the perfect match thing doesn't it? We can't leave until your father is convinced we're happy together, right?"

Riah looks at me, and all I can see is misery in his eyes. His voice shakes when he speaks, "My father isn't convinced I can handle you."

Handle me? I give him a puzzling look, "What?"

Riah sighs, "I just-" he tries again, "We really need to get out of here, alright? Let's just leave it at that."

*****

When we go home Riah escorts Ari back to the main house while I stay behind and pack myself a bag, which tells me something is wrong since Riah never lets me pick my own clothes out, not to mention his. When Riah finally returns, he looks even more distressed than before. I've never seen him like this. Gloomy? Yes. But never full blown distraught. He always has an air of smugness about him, but that is somehow gone for the moment.