24: 24 A Nighttime Escapade (AVOT)

24 A Nighttime Escapade (AVOT)

Daisy moved with hesitant steps, trying to silence the tiny voice in her mind questioning her audacious move. As she tiptoed through the quiet house and opened the back door, a rush of cool night air swept over her, a shiver trailing down her spine.

Suddenly, Lord Blackthorne materialized in the backyard, as though he had merely stepped out of the shadows. His smile was soft, inviting even. He extended his hand to her, and after a moment's hesitation, Daisy took it. His touch was unexpectedly warm against the cool night air, providing an odd sense of comfort.

As they walked together, Daisy felt a flicker of anxiety, glancing around nervously for any prying eyes. Sensing her unease, Lord Blackthorne gently squeezed her hand, drawing her attention back to him. Once her eyes met his, she felt ensnared by his captivating gaze. "Don't worry. It is only you and me and no one can see," he assured her, his words somewhat cryptic yet oddly comforting.

As they ventured into the woods, Daisy felt her senses sharpening, and she was on high alert. It was as if the world had faded into the background and the only things that existed were her, Lord Blackthorne, and the enveloping darkness. 

It wasn't long before Daisy spotted a horse anchored to a tree in the distance. Lord Blackthorne released her hand to approach the animal, his movements fluid and assured as he calmed it with a gentle stroke of its muzzle. Daisy watched, a mixture of awe and uncertainty filling her.

"Are you cold?" He asked, his gaze traveling over her while still stroking the animal. 

A small shake of her head was her response, but Lord Blackthorne was already shrugging off his coat, offering it to her with an unreadable smile. 

"I am alright, my lord," she attempted to protest, but he dismissed her objections. 

"You are no trouble to me, Daisy." He said, holding up the coat for her. 

He gently guided her into the coat and she was instantly surrounded by his warmth. The fabric was still soaked with the heat of his body, his scent clinging to it. It was a heady mix that intrigued her; an odd, contrasting combination of dark musk and the freshness of roses. It was as if he had spent his days wandering amidst ancient trees and moonlit gardens.

He then offered his hand and assisted her onto the horse. A brief moment later, he climbed up behind her, his arms coming around her to grasp the reins. His presence was an immediate and intimate intrusion, his body a solid and warm mass pressed close against her back. His arms encircled her, bringing a rush of heat to her cheeks as she felt his firm chest against her back.

"Are you comfortable?" His voice was low, sending a tingle down her spine as his breath ghosted over her hair.

"Yes," she breathed out, her voice barely a whisper.

With a gentle nudge, the horse started to move. With each step the horse took, their bodies swayed in rhythm, making her acutely aware of the man behind her. The steady rhythm was lulling, and his presence was like a protective shield against the unfamiliarity of the situation. Yet with each brush of their bodies, she felt a strange tension building within her, a tingling sensation that she had no name for. 

"Where are you taking us, my Lord?" Daisy's voice trembled slightly in the darkness.

His response came soft and warm, "Daisy, we're to be wed in mere days. Please, call me by name only."

She hesitated for a moment, acutely aware of the intimacy of the situation, but steeled herself to accept the change. "Rhain," she said. 

"Yes…" His breath ghosted across her neck, and distracted her thoughts, now slowly taking them in another direction. 

His nightly visit was perplexing. What could he possibly want at this late hour? This thought led her to the memory of that terrifying night with Philip.

"Rhain?" She ventured again, her voice soft and uncertain.

"Yes, Daisy."

"Thank you, for taking care of Philip."

He was silent for a moment, his chest rising and falling gently against her back. "It was my duty to protect you, Daisy," he said at last. 

Protect her? Although there were brief moments where she felt protected with him, he didn't strike her as a protector. More like the person she should be protected from. 

"I suspect... it was not your first visit to our home at night," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What makes you think so?" He inquired.

She hesitated for a moment before gathering her courage. "Was it?"

"No," he admitted. "I have visited before. I considered luring you out into the night."

Her heart hammered in her chest at his admission. The audacity, the danger... it was thrilling and terrifying in equal measure. But she felt a strange pull, a sense of curiosity and adventure she had never felt before. "Was that... the only reason?" She managed to ask, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart.

He was quiet for a moment, and she could feel his smile in the darkness. "Let's just say there were other matters that I couldn't attend to while being a guest in your house at night."

Her heart skipped a beat at his suggestive words, a sudden heat rushing to her cheeks. "But you... you took me home one night, didn't you?" She said quickly in an attempt to ignore what he just said. He was truly making sure that this nighttime venture was as inappropriate as it could get. 

"I did?"

"I... think so." She faltered. "Or maybe it was just a dream. My memory has been... hazy lately." The words rushed out of her mouth in her flustered state. 

He chuckled, the sound deep and rich, a pleasant vibration that somehow echoed in the stillness of the night. "It seems you've been dreaming of me, Daisy. And here I thought I was the only one losing sleep."

"I... No, I didn't mean it like that!" She stuttered, the burning of her cheeks a clear indication of how she made matters worse. 

Rhain's laughter filled the quiet night again, sending a swarm of butterflies fluttering in her stomach. "Is that so? I find it quite flattering, actually. I must be quite a charming figure in your dreams, Daisy."

Her face was undoubtedly as red as a ripe apple now, and she was glad he couldn't see her at least. She wished to shrink and dissipate like mist. 

"Rhain, I..." She began, but the words died on her lips. How could she explain what she herself did not understand?

She felt him shift behind her, his warmth radiating through her back. "It's alright, Daisy," he murmured, his voice lowering into a soft, soothing lull. "Dreams are just dreams, after all. No need to explain anything."

His words did little to calm her. A sudden drop of water made her look down at her hand and then she felt another on her face. 

Was it starting to rain? 

"Hold on!" Rhain told her and then spurred the horse into a faster pace. The animal responded obediently, their bodies lurching with the sudden increase in speed. The trees began to blur as they raced through the forest, the darkness of the night enveloping them like a protective cloak.

The rain began to pour before they found a shelter but it didn't take long before a building came into view in the distance, illuminated by the intermittent flashes of lightning that had started to accompany the rain. 

It appeared to be an old abandoned hunting lodge, its stone walls and thatched roof a testament to its age. It had a covered veranda, perfect to providing shelter from the rain.

With deft ease, Rhain maneuvered the horse under the roof of the veranda before dismounting first. He then turned to offer his hand to Daisy, helping her down from the horse. As her feet touched the ground, she took a moment to steady herself, her heart still racing from the swift ride that had managed to cool her embarrassment. 

As Daisy's gaze swept upward, she couldn't help but be momentarily captivated by the sight of Rhain in the rain. The downpour had dampened his dark hair, the wet strands hanging around his face with drops of water falling from them. His already silver glow skin, now glistened, every droplet of rain shimmering like a diamond against it.

The rain-soaked fabric of his shirt clung to his chest, subtly outlining the muscular planes that lay beneath. Despite the rain and the storm, heat coiled within her, the contrast of hot and cold causing her to shiver. 

Daisy forgot he was holding her hand until he started leading her towards the bench placed against the edge of the veranda. Daisy followed suit, her heart pounding in her chest as she took a seat, placing herself a cautious distance away from him. Rhain, for his part, didn't seem to mind. He took a seat next to her, leaning back to stare out into the storm.

They sat in silence for a while, watching the rain as it cascaded down from the dark sky, each drop shimmering as it caught the light. The sound of the drops hitting the ground, the occasional peal of thunder in the distance, it all seemed to drown out the confusion that had filled Daisy's mind.

Her gaze flitted towards Rhain, observing him quietly. What made him so different? Why did he make her feel like this? 

"Rhain?" She was surprised by how softly she uttered his name. 

He turned to her, seemingly surprised as well. 

"May I ask a personal question?" She asked. 

"You can ask me anything you wish to know." 

"The illness you suffer from... what is it? How did you acquire it?" She wondered. 

Rhain's gaze shifted from her, and he stared out into the rain. "I am not sure what it is, but it is eternal. It can't be cured." 

She frowned. "Does it… cause you any pain?" 

He seemed thoughtful. "Sometimes." 

"How?" 

He thought some more. "When I ignore the demands of my condition," Rhain said, the corners of his mouth curving in a wry smile. He then turned to her, "such as when I stay in the sun for too long." He added, with a more uplifting smile this time, as if hiding his pain. 

"You should use an umbrella." She said.  0

He chuckled softly. "You seem concerned for me, Daisy." 

"And you appear to take pleasure in making me anxious." 

He strung his arm on the backrest, his hand reaching behind her back as he leaned closer. "How can we engage in inappropriateness if you are so easily flustered, dear Dasiy?" 

Caught off guard by his comment, she felt her cheeks heating up. 

"Well, I won't make a good participant. I am not an expert in improprieties, as you are, my Lord." She said a bit teasingly as to not offend him 

A hearty laugh escaped his lips, and his eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh, so we've reverted to formalities now?" 

Daisy caught a glimpse of his teeth from the side as he laughed, seeing the slightly longer, sharper canines. It amplified his predatory aura, and her heart began to beat rapidly. The sense of caution all came back, her alarms going off. 

As if sensing her unease, his eyes narrowed. "Daisy," he began softly. "You need not…" 

His words were cut off abruptly as a sudden, ear-splitting crash of thunder reverberated through the air. The suddenness of it had Daisy jumping out of her skin, her reflexes pushing her away from the source of the sound. And since he was sitting by her side, she ended up tumbling right into his arms, a soft gasp escaping her lips.

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A/N 

How to pronounce "Rhain". 

It is a Welsh name so in Welsh it is "Rayn". 

In English, it is "Rain". 

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