TouchNode | Complete

50 | At Long Last, We're Free

And then... all the love from before came rushing back and nothing else mattered, nothing.

"No peeking..."

I chuckled under my breath and held tight to Euphrates hands woven around mine. Blindfolded, barefoot, and brilliantly mystified, my body followed behind him eagerly. Every time he spoke, I could hear the smile on his face.

"We're almost there."

Pushing forward, my feet slid across the smooth floors of what I assumed was the ship's deck. It was cool to the touch but slightly warmed by the sun's rays as it cast across the vessel. I could feel it now, basking my shoulders in fantastic heat.

"I'm going to lift you now."

Up, up, up, I went, caught in his powerful embrace. He lifted me gingerly, catching my waist in his large palms and letting me drift up the stairs to the floor. He walked, I stumbled, forward a few more steps.

"Eyes closed, love." He cautioned, gently removing the blindfold — his tie — from my eyes. "Stand here for a moment, I'll let you know when you can look."

Quick footsteps echoed around me, sprinting back and forth, then soft clinking. My lips turned up at the sides, smiling slightly, as I continued to follow his instructions. Quietly, I waited patiently for his next words.

"Dev!" He sounded apologetic when I jolted away from him, surprised to have his hands clasp mine. "It's me, I'm sorry. I should have warned you. Come this way..." He led me forward a few steps, then stopped completely. "You can open your eyes now."

"Euph—" My breath hitched. "This is... wow... is this... all this... for me?"

His head nodded slowly, and he grinned, motioning around his us with bright eyes.

"Do you like it?"

Awed, my voice left me in a whisper. "Of course. I-I love it."

The deck of the yacht had been completely transformed. Blood red rose petals dotted the white deck, bouquets of fresh red roses perfumed the air, and scattered the rest of the deck. A round table with two chairs was set in the center, champagne was chilling in ice, with a course of food placed at each setting. The moment I neared the table, Euphrates pulled out my chair and motioned for me to sit.

"What is all this?"

He shrugged, still smiling. "A surprise..."

Suddenly shy, I smiled back and pulled the cloth napkin across my lap.

"Champagne?" He popped the cork on the bottle and poured my glass full, gently lifting the bottle away and dropping it back into the ice bucket. "Please, have some... I want to know if we made it correctly."

The dinner was delicious, each course flying past at the speed of light. Euphrates was relaxed, leaning back in his chair with his shirt half undone and the sleeves rolled to his elbows. I watched him as we spoke, trying to keep a smile on my face when doubt began to swirl in my stomach.

For the first time in years, I truly felt free, but the feeling was half-floating, fledgling, still wrought with the words spilling from Carter's mouth. Was it true? Any of it? Is there danger lurking inside of Euphrates that I don't see because I'm blinded by love? The sides of my mouth dipped into a frown as I processed my thoughts. Surely I hadn't been that naïve?

Although I was now free, all I could think about was the horror I had endured at the hands of Carter. When there was no longer any sparkle in my eyes and my curly hair was matted and caked with blood, trapped in a quickly tangling ponytail at the base of my neck. Bruises lined my neck, wrists, and ankles. I had looked like hell. I had felt like hell.