Chapter 48

***~The Surprise - Part 2~***

**Nerissa POV**

“I want to show you something. Come on.”

I placed my hand in his large one, standing up as I followed slowly after him, noticing we were moving further away from the large crowd and their laughter, walking more deep into the darkness.
The path we took was the one I was not familiar with as we passed through the thick overgrown bushes and trees, making Alex hold up any low branch for me so I could pass through safely as we walked further into the unknown side of the forest.
Soon enough we came to a stop next to what looked like a nature-made wall out of wild Ivy or was it a hedge, I couldn’t really make out.
Alex turned to me, smiling widely as he said, “Ready?”
“Ready for what?” I asked him, barely holding in the excitement and curiosity that was showing in the tone of my voice and my eyes.
“Close your eyes.” He instructed me as I raised my brow at him, making him chuckle and walk towards me, taking my arm as he asked me, “Do you trust me?”
Thinking for a moment about his question, I realized I did, so I nod my head as he said, “Then trust me, and close your eyes, my love.”
I did as he asked, closing my eyes as he held my hands and slowly led me forward.
I could hear the rustling of what seemed to be leaves as he gently pulled me forward, instructing me where to place my foot as he was leading the way.
I couldn’t hold in my giggles as I couldn’t wait to see where he was taking me.
The gentle breeze brought the beautiful scent of Jasmine and wildflowers as the soft sounds of crickets sounded all around us.
“Here we are. You can open your eyes now, love.” Alex said into my ear as he let go of my hands and stood right behind me.
Taking in a deep breath as the beautiful smell of the flowers reached my nose, I slowly opened my eyes, blinking a couple of times as a gasp left my lips, pressing my hand over my heart at the beautiful sight before me.
There was a round table with two chairs placed in the middle of what seemed to be a garden.
I could see a candle in the center of the table with two glasses and a bottle being cooled on the side. Plates that were covered, hiding something that was underneath the cover, and thousands of butterflies adding to the romantic atmosphere that surrounded us.
The small pond could be seen right next to the table filled with small fishes that slowly swam in it as the calming sound was heard from a small waterfall that seemed to fall from the crack in the stone wall.
“Do you like it?” he asked me and I could hear the nervousness in his voice, making me turn towards him.
His eyes were showing to me clearly how nervous he was, so instead of answering him with words, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer and pressing my lips over his as I kissed him with all my heart, hoping he will see how much I love this surprise.
Before our kiss could get more heated, I pulled away, making him groan as I smiled at him, saying, “I love it!”
He smiled, hearing my words as we walked hand in hand towards the placed seating. 
He held my chair for me as I smiled, thanking him. He walked towards the other side and took a bottle of wine, asking me, “Would you like some?”
“Yes, please,” I said smiling as I looked around at the beauty of this hidden little heaven, noticing a beautiful swing hanging off the tree in the further end of this garden.
Alex opened the bottle of red wine and poured it into our glasses as I asked him, “This place is so magical, how did you find it?”
He looked around before he answered, saying, “This was my mother’s garden. My dad made that swing for her which my bro… ‘Cough’… Reynard and I used to sneak in and play on.”
Silently, I looked around the garden and couldn’t stop admiring the beauty of it.
Yes, it was overgrown and needed some work to restore it, but I found it magical either way.
“I hope you are at least a little hungry.” I heard Alex say as he stood up and picked up our plate covers, revealing a beautiful piece of chocolate cake.
Strawberries were inside in between the layers of the cake with white cream and hazelnuts, making my mouth water.
“O Goddess… h-how did you know?” I was surprised to see my all-time favorite dessert.
I saw him looking uncomfortable as he scratched the back of his neck as a blush appeared on his cheeks, he said, “I remembered one time you were talking with Emily in the kitchen about your favorite desserts, and you said it is a chocolate cake with strawberries and hazelnuts.”
My eyes never left him as silently as I listened to his explanation and I could feel my heart swell with warm feelings, realizing that even then he cared just he didn’t want to admit it yet.
Smiling at him, I spoke gently, “So you eavesdropped on Emily’s and mine conversation?”
I could see he was embarrassed as his cheeks grew even more red from embarrassment, he said, “I… okay yes, maybe I did but I was curious about you, and yes I cared about you I was just too stupid of a jerk to admit it then. Hell, I didn’t just care, I loved you even then as I do now. Fuck it, now you know.”
I couldn’t help the giggling that came out of my lips, making his eyebrows rise as he heard me smile at his nervous rambling, trying to cover my laughter with my hand, he asked me, “Are you laughing at me?”
Shaking away my head, still trying to control my laughter, I knew I failed miserably trying to make him believe I am not when it was too obvious that I am.
I took a fork and grabbed a piece of cake, putting it in my mouth as my giggles still sounded, making Alex watch at me in amusement.
The moment the cake reached my taste buds, I stopped giggling as I enjoyed the taste of the delicious aroma, closing my eyes to it as I moan left my lips, not being able to hold it in.
My eyes snapped open, seeing his eyes grew dark as he silently watched me.
Clearing my throat, I said, “This is so delicious. Remind me to praise whoever made this and to thank him.” I finished with a smile.
“Thank you.” He answered, taking a glass of his wine, drinking it as his eyes never left my face as my eyes looked at him, surprised by his answer.
“Y-you made this?” I asked him surprised as he gave me a breathtaking, panty-dropping smile.
“I did.” He answered honestly.
“How?” I asked, feeling surprised as my eyes then looked once again around and then back at him, adding, “This is all you?”
He nodded his head, answering, “For the first question, the answer is simple. I had a lot of time to practice until I perfected my skills and knowledge that you like the cake. All those frustrating attempts and burned cakes make it all worth just to see you are happy and enjoying it, and for the second part of your question, yes I have set and prepared everything here on my own. I wanted to surprise you and have a date night kind of…”
“A date night?” I asked, hearing his words as he nodded his head.
“I know I should have maybe asked you but then it wouldn’t be a   surprise but yes, I wanted and I still want to have this evening as our date night if you would want it to be?” he said softly making me grin wide at him, nodding my head as I answered, “I would very much like it to be.”
He grinned at me, raising his glass as I followed his gesture. Our glasses clink together as he said, “Let’s toast to our one of many dates ahead that are awaiting for us yet.”
Taking a sip of the wine as our eyes never left each other’s, he extended his hand across the table, asking me, “Would you do me an honor and dance with me?”
Giggling, I said, “But there is no music.”
Smiling, he stood up and took my hand as I slowly followed his lead. He wrapped his arm around my waist, starting to lead us in the rhythm of the music we couldn’t hear, saying, “We don’t need music to be close to each other.”
I placed my head on his chest, hearing his steady and strong heartbeat.
The feeling of home, safety, and happiness wrapped around my heart as we slowly swayed to the invisible notes of forest music.
His finger reached under my chin, gently pulling me to look up into his eyes.
I could see the love, desire, hunger, shining deep inside of his eyes as he leaned down and placed his lips over mine, kissing me with so much passion that took my breath away.
The rustling of the leaves sounded from the distance, approaching faster and faster, making us break our kiss just in time to look at the entrance of the garden as a menacing growl sounded.