Page 49 of Journey to the Elderoak
“Is that a blindfold?”
He nodded. “Because I know you’re going to ask,” he said before she had a chance to say anything else. “I promise I won’t let you trip and land on anything perilous.”
“Does this mean you expect me to do the other obstacle course blindfolded?”
“No. I just want you to practice here and pay attention to your other senses.”
Ava bit her lip. Fuck, he loved it when she did that.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
Casimir walked up behind her and put the blindfold over her eyes, securing it with a knot. He could smell the lavender shampoo she always used, and it took every ounce of his self-control not to lean in and nuzzle her gorgeous hair.
“I’ve never let a man blindfold me before,” Ava said, obviously trying to make a joke to ease her nerves.
He finished tying the ends and leaned closer, whispering low into her ear, “I’m honored to be the first one.”
She let out the tiniest whimper as he allowed his fingers to brush along her neck and backed away. Her breathing had quickened, and she stood still, seemingly lost in thought. He tried not to laugh at how easily riled up she was with the brush of his fingers, the touch of his hand. What else could he do to make a sound like that escape her lips?
“Ava. You’re already getting distracted.”
“Maybe you should stop distracting me.”
“Okay,” he said. “I’m done distracting you…for now.”
He liked flirting with her. Flirting was safe. It was easy. Soft touches, jokes, teasing each other. Poking at her to irritate her or make her nervous.
It was the rest that was difficult. Complicated. Feelings and words and deeper truths he was ignoring. Besides, she’d been through so much he didn’t want to cross a boundary. And, admittedly, Aro was right. He was scared.
Scared of opening himself up; of pushing too soon and causing her more distress; of losing her like he’d lost his family.
“For now? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means nothing,” he answered. “Alright. Can you see anything?”
“No.”
He took her hand and led her to the start of the small course. “Right in front of you is a low balance beam. I want you to feel around for it with your foot and make it across without falling,” he said, letting go.
She followed his instructions and found the beam. Shuffling her feet, she walked, arms out as she tried to stay balanced.
“Arms down,” he stated.
She grunted in frustration but did as he said. Moments later, her foot slipped. She found the beam again and continued forward but was unable to make it without sliding off. Every time her foot hit the ground, Casimir grabbed her hand and led her back to the beginning, instructing her to start over. It took her half an hour to get across the balance beam without fumbling, but she got the hang of it.
Next, he led her to the stepping stones and she struggled with this even more. “Memorize their locations when you make it to the next one.”
“I don’t know how to do that,” she said. “I don’t have the same senses you do.”
“Try.”
She did. Hopping to the next and only landing accurately about thirty percent of the time. But she lost focus, apparent exhaustion catching up with her. Leaping to the next stone, her foot slipped yet again, and she fell forward with a shout. Casimir was there in an instant, catching and steadying her on her feet.
Their bodies were closer than he’d intended, his hands resting on her hips. He wanted to pull her flush against him. Kiss her soft lips and comb his fingers through her hair. Run his hands along her body and touch every dip and curve until she begged him not to stop. But it wasn’t just a want. It was a need. He needed her like he needed air to breathe, and it took every ounce of self-control he had not to act on it whenever she was around.
She reached to pull off the blindfold, but he grabbed her wrists, placing her hands on his chest. They remained pressed against each other, neither willing to break contact.
He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I can hear your pulse racing.”
