Page 92 of Mermaid on Heels
It was as if the heavens themselves were giving their blessing when the rain began to fall. It started as a gentle drizzle, but soon turned into a downpour.
Liriya and Luke were drenched within seconds, their clothes sticking to their bodies. Nevertheless, they didn’t break apart from their lip-locked embrace, lost in the moment as they cherished their engagement.
When they eventually pulled apart, Luke murmured with a radiant smile, “Seems like the Creator is celebrating our love.”
“I bet He was waiting for us to finally get to this part.” Liriya grinned, bringing her hand to his face, moving aside a damp lock of his dark hair from his forehead and trailing her fingers down his rain-kissed cheek and jaw.
“I bet He was,” Luke murmured, closing his eyes to her touch. Opening them a moment later, he asked, “Do you mind keeping our engagement a secret until the day after tomorrow? Only our families should know.”
“Of course, I do not mind.” Liriya pulled his head down and met his lips in a tender, rain-soaked kiss, savoring their taste. “I love you,” she murmured, loud enough for him to hear her over the rain, touching their foreheads together.
“I love you,” Luke said with a grin. “I could say that and kiss you for the rest of my life, every single minute, and never get tired of it.”
Laughter bubbled up from deep within Liriya and she released it, immediately joined by Luke, their joy echoing through the heart of the maze and dancing with the raindrops. The world felt so alive and magical, and Liriya felt him kiss her hair. She shivered in pleasure.
“Dance with me?”
“As long as you wish, my king.”
“It’s forever, my love.”
“And, I am all in.”
Luke twirled her under his arm and drew her back to his embrace, before leading them into a waltz. She couldn’t stop grinning at him, her heart bursting with joy. The rain continued to fall like a melody of the Creator’s blessing as they danced and danced around the mermaid fountain.
When the rain showed no sign of stopping or ceasing, Luke led Liriya out of the maze. They raced through the garden, heading for the castle when Liriya spotted a pavilion. She tugged at his hand to get his attention and pointed towards it.
They reached the sheltering embrace of the pavilion in quick, long strides just as the rain cascaded in torrents. The soft pattering of raindrops on the pavilion’s roof created a soothing symphony, a tranquil contrast to the storm outside.
Liriya slipped her hand from Luke’s and ran her hands over her face, moving aside the damp hair clinging to her skin. She leaned her back against one of the pillars to catch her breath and shared a glance with Luke, grinning ear to ear. His dark hair streaked with droplets and his eyes shimmered with mirth and affection as he too caught his breath.
“That was amazing,” Liriya said, and let her eyes wander about the pavilion. She squeezed the water from her hair and tousled it as her eyes assessed the interior of the structure.
Stone benches adorned with plush cushions lined the inner perimeter, and the enchanted hanging lanterns cast a soft glow around them. There were vines that climbed the columns, and their leaves now glistened with raindrops like nature’s jewels.
“What? Our kiss or the rain?” Luke teased as he walked to the lantern nearest to him and covered its glow with a cup-like object tied with a string to its side.
“What are you doing?” Liriya watched in bafflement as he walked around the pavilion and did the same with every lantern, except a distant one.
“Saving us from being seen locked in a lovers’ embrace.” He crossed the pavilion to her, his lips twitching into her favorite crooked grin, and stopped in front of her. “Now, the answer to my question?”
Liriya’s heart pounded like a tempestuous wave, but she smiled a matching grin at him. “The combination of all three; the kiss, the rain, and the dance—especiallythe kiss. It was perfect.”
“Youwere perfect.” Luke’s hand cupped the side of her face. “Youareperfect.”
Liriya shook her head and opened her mouth to protest, but he cut in, “You are perfect, my love—for me. There is no one like you, no one other than you. It’s you, just you, and that’s what makes you perfect.”
Her heart melted. “And so are you.”
“If you insist.” Luke trapped her between his body and the pillar and brought his lips to hers. Liriya’s eyes fluttered closed and she returned the kiss, when suddenly, he pulled back. “Liriya.” His voice broke the daze. “There’s something else I want to tell you. I had totally forgotten about it until now and I want to get it off my chest before I kiss you again.”
“What is it?” Liriya furrowed her eyebrows, trying to peer at his face. When he leaned back to look at her, she saw the frown on his handsome face. Her heart raced in alarm and her voice grew urgent. “Luke, what is it?”
“I lied to you about something.”
Liriya held her breath, staring at the rueful expression on his face. When he didn’t continue but kept staring back, she prodded gently, “What about?”
He hesitated, sucked in a sharp breath, and continued, “The night of the ball, when you asked me if I knew the sea where my father found my mother… I lied.” He watched her intently, as though anticipating her reaction.