Free Engage (Billionaire Series) by Evelyn Harper Page A

standing there, both laughing at ourselves.
We had only been talking a few minutes, but already I was completely at ease,
excited to show Mathis the wonders of the woods.
     
    “Come
on,” I said, “Let’s go.”
     
    ***
     
    Our
walks in the wood became a regular activity whenever Mathis had some free time.
The childish fantasy we had created was at the center of our walks, and each
day we added some new embellishment to our own little world. We named the trees
and each climbed as high as we could on our favorites. We ventured farther and
farther into the dark, thick center of the wood, away from the paths,
discovering something new with each new adventure.
     
    On this
particular day it was raining heavily, and we had penetrated farther than ever
into the thick canopy in order to escape the worst of the rain. As we sheltered
under a large branch, Mathis inquisitively peered in the direction of what
looked like a small cliff.
     
    “Hey –
is that a cave?” he asked, pointing past the trees and towards the cliff.
     
    “I don’t
know – I’ve never been to this part of the woods before,” I admitted. I was
actually too afraid to venture too far away from Uncle Andy’s home.
     
    “Do you
want to go and explore?” he asked.
     
    “OK –
we’d better be careful, though. Who knows what might be lurking in a cave in
this part of the forest,” I said seriously.
     
    “I’ll
go first, then, to make sure there aren’t any evil creatures or dark spirits
waiting to send you into an eternal sleep,” Mathis teased as he ran off.
     
    “Wait –
don’t leave me here by myself!” I exclaimed, rushing after him.
     
    Mathis
laughed as he let me catch up. “I’ll do my best to protect you from the rain,
at least,” he said, putting his arm around me as we ducked through the trees in
the direction of the small cliff.
     
    There
was indeed a cave, a small nook in the side of the stony wall which provided
just enough space for two people to shelter. Mathis made a show of scoping out
every corner of the small cave before holding out his hand and pulling me over
the threshold.
     
    “Do you
feel any evil presence?” he asked me.
     
    “Mmm,
not sure yet,” I said nervously. I didn’t want to admit I was a little scared,
but I felt better that Mathis was with me.
     
    “Well,
let me know if you start feeling sleepy and I’ll do all I can to keep you awake
so you don’t fall under the spell,” Mathis teased, unfazed by our new
surroundings.
     
    We sat
on a big rock inside the cave for a few minutes, listening to the beating of
the rain above us and the quiet sounds of our own breathing. We were sitting
close together in the little cave, so close that I could feel the heat
radiating off his body and see the fine, golden hairs on the side of his face.
     
    “Mathis,”
I said nervously.
     
    “What
is it?” he asked, and looked at me in concern. “Are you getting wet? Is the
cave witch trying to put a spell on you?”
     
    His
eyes were looking intensely into mine, and although his tone was joking, his
entire manner was serious – concerned for me, searching deeply in my face for
any sign of fear or discomfort. I saw how close his mouth was, and my heart
beat a little faster. I licked my lips subtly, wondering if his would be soft
if I kissed them, if they would feel damp or smooth, how hard they would press
against mine.
     
    “I –
maybe she is putting a spell on me,” I admitted. “I feel… weird.”
     
    “Weird?
Strange?” Mathis repeated, and his eyes darted down to my lips. I felt the heat
rising in my cheeks, and I was suddenly nervous, but excited. “Strangeness is a
definite sign of enchantment.”
     
    “I – if
I go into an enchanted sleep,” I began, and then stopped, feeling silly and
embarrassed for what I was about to suggest.
     
    “Don’t
worry,” Mathis said, and he leaned in even closer to me, putting his lips to my
ear and whispering, “I know what the handsome prince