As the car maneuvered into a bushy trail, a path filled with grass and rock. Maya turned to look at Xavier who had dismissed the driver and for the first time was behind the wheel.
"You know if you want to kill me and bury my body where it can't be found. There are less complicated methods. Not by paralyzing me with a rod or something and leaving me as food for some animals to consume." She said, in-between Making a joke of how tense she was and being serious.
Was he going to hold her with one hand on top of a cliff and make her promise to do all his biddings? She thought shaking her head, as she began to reconsider Jasmine's idea of reducing the way she watched crime thrillers.
"If you keep on talking, you just might give me ideas." He threatened and Rolling his eyes, he opened the door and came out.
Not wanting to upset him, unsure if he was serious about his threat or joking since his damn poker face made him impossible to read, she followed him.
She trudged into the heart of the bush, Xavier walking down the almost covered trails confidently, assuring Maya he had walked this path more than a hundred times even though the trails were almost covered, evident to the fact that nobody has walked down the path for months.
She hits her leg, against a rock almost falling. She winced in pain while he shook his head at how clumsy she could be and without warning, gathered her in his arms carrying her bridal style.
She stiffened. The proximity of her body against his hard chest, coupled with the intoxicating scent of him made her light-headed. She tried to ignore the fact that his strong muscular arms were so close to her ass.
"Put me down," she demanded, thankful that her voice came out firm.
"Just enjoy the royal treatment, hot stuff." He whispered, picking up his pace, confirming her suspicion that he had slowed down his strides because of her.
"We have arrived." He announced, dropping her on the ground as she resisted the urge to grumble, missing his body heat.
She stared at the bushes around them, then turned to him.
"Wow, I am so impressed. This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you for the tour." She said, her statement laced with sarcasm.
He stared at her for seconds then doubled over in laughter while Maya watched him completely speechless. Apart from how devastatingly beautiful the sight was, she was just realizing, that was the first time she was seeing him so cracked up.
With a goofy grin, he shook his head amused.
"God! Stop judging a book by its cover, Kitten." He said.
She frowned, deciding to concentrate on her confusion than the effect that silly nickname still has on her and how wet her pants suddenly became and her girl parts tingle.
"I can't help it if the covers are green grasses and the chirping of beds with towering trees that I bet are hiding some hideous creatures lying in wait, ready to feast on our flesh..."
He erupted into another fit of laughter and Maya couldn't help but be entranced, acknowledging the beauty of this rare sight with her stare.
"You have a colorful, funny imagination. I will give you that and the way you say these things with a serious face... Damn you are cracking me up real good." He said amused.
"You take laughing to a whole new level when it comes to beauty." She blurted out not able to help herself.
He nodded awkwardly and then grinning, he parted the bushes with his hands, while she stared at him in confusion wondering if he has gone nuts.
Seconds later, her confusion was transformed into a gobsmacked expression that left Xavier utterly satisfied.
"Wow. Wow..." She whispered taking a step towards the sight before her, staring at acres and acres of land covered with red lush roses.
She grinned as she saw the roaring blue sea, believing that perfection does exist.
Xavier looked at her, realizing that at that moment with her eyes lifted, her hair blown by the wind; She was a living marvelous piece of art, he will love to gaze at all the time.
"You know wow, wow ain't words in fact they just make you sound like an ambulance." He teased.
Her eyes were brightened with tears.
"This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, hands down." She admitted, not even sparing him a glance.
"Worth the scare right?" He asked smugly.
She stared at him in disbelief, like she couldn't believe he had made a comparison.
"This is worth everything."
He stared at her in confusion as she removed her footwear enjoying the feel of sand against her bare feet, while she raced towards the enchanting sea.
Scooping the water, she splashed it playfully on her face and turned to notice that Xavier wasn't planning on joining her. He just stood at the side watching her, fascinated by her simplicity and how little things could make her so delighted.
"Come over here. Don't just stand there and stare, Mr tall and grumpy!" She screamed ecstatic, throwing her hands up in the air.
"Thought you couldn't stand the sight of me." He hollered.
"You have 15 minutes before I remember I hate you."
She grinned as he removed his shoes and folded his trousers, then he joined her.
"The water is so cold." He complained almost pouting.
She laughed, finding this side of him that was more like a child endearing, she splashed him water.
"You asked for It Maya," he growled in mock aggressiveness as he made sounds of battle canons.
She laughed then made a run for it while he chased her, their laughter echoing repeatedly.
Breathlessly, she ran out of the water sitting down on the floor, he joined her breathing heavily beside her.
They both were soaking wet, their hair damp and Xavier's plastered on his forehead making him look even hotter if that was even possible as they grinned at each other.
"That was crazy." She mumbled breathlessly.
"You are crazy." He stated.
"How did you stumble on this?" She asked curiously, minutes later when they had both climbed down the high of the adrenaline rush.
"Didn't stumble on it. I am not some weirdo that goes, hiking in the woods." He smiled. "That was actually Diane's thing"
She stared at him confused, wondering who Diane was.
"This was Anne Gracie's daughter's favorite spot."
Her eyes were on his, not believing he was finally ready to share this part of his life, that made him touchy. The fact that he was actually ready to tell her something that meant this much to him ~ That was everything for her.
"She called it her safe haven and one day, I was so upset and she brought me here and it became mine too. Don't know if it is the calming effect of this place or the presence of my grandma I feel whenever I come here, but it always helped." He paused, while Maya just processed his every word, her eyes on his, not wanting to say a word and mess up the moment.
He smiled, "Diane was fired up with the thought of barrelling her way into my life regardless of how close off I was determined to be." He stared at Maya, "She also had defiant pair of brown eyes like yours. Determined and stubborn."
"The more I pushed, the more she pushed harder. As we became closer, I still waited with my breath hitched in anticipation for her to finally give me a reason to doubt her intention, to finally state what she wanted from me..." He stopped, then stood up.
She stood up too.
"Why did you bring me here?" She asked interlacing her hands with his.
His eyes went to their joined hands momentarily but didn't shrug his hand off as she had feared.
"Because... After all, I said to you last night, just some shitty excuse or reason won't do besides I Know a lot about you and it will only be fair if you know this much." He whispered.
She stared at him, speechless.
"I might not be able to open up now and tell you every little detail because it still hurts so much. But for once in my life, I can't help but be convinced that I am indeed fucked up without someone's help." He stared at her, removing his hand from hers.
"That someone is you, Maya."
"Be my fake fiancée once more, because no matter how much I think of this. I only want to play this role with you, only you Maya." He said going down on one knee and producing the ring she had abandoned from his breast pocket.
She sobbed.