Distractions (36 page)

tip of my chin.

At that moment, I decided losing my

mind might not be a bad thing after all. If

insanity meant living in a world where I

got to feel like this every moment, I

would gladly embrace it.

Chapter 33 -

Nothing Stays the

Same

The two-hour drive to Bad

Reichenhall was incredible. As we

approached the mountains, the scenery

became more idyllic with rolling hills

and lush forest. The Autobahn opened up

the farther away we got from the city.

Shepard squeezed my thigh before

punching the gas at an unholy speed,

howling like a maniac. The adrenaline of

flying down a road at over one hundred

and twenty miles an hour has a way of

scaring the shit out of you, but after the

first time it happens, you want to do it

again and again. I understood why he

loved this car; despite the name he gave

it, she was incredible. The way he drove

with precision and total control made me

dizzy with lust.

I always thought women who

fawned over men with cars like this

were idiots, and that the men who bought

them had something to prove. Shepard

had nothing to prove. This was his toy,

albeit a very expensive one, and it made

him happy.

“You know you love it.” He

chuckled while rubbing the dashboard

again.

“Whatever…”

“It’s okay, I won’t tell anyone.

That’s kind of narcissistic, though. I

mean who loves a car?” When I lightly

punched his arm, his hand went up to

fight me off. “Whoa, whoa, driving

here!” Placing my hands together in my

lap like a scolded child, I tucked in my

lips and looked out the window. “That’s

better, sit there and be quiet like a good

little girl.”

My eyes grew wide as he mocked

me. “You of all people know I am

terrible at being obedient.”

With a confident smirk, he initiated

a challenge. “I can change that.”

Crossing my arms and meeting his

intense gaze, the warmth in my center

started to stir. I knew this was

dangerous, yet I couldn’t resist.

“Oh really, is that so?” I piqued my

brow and looked at the road.

“How about spending more time

paying attention to driving like you said

you were instead of egging me on?”

He placed both hands back on the

wheel, yet I could feel this was not over.

For good measure, I flicked my wrist as

though I were holding a whip and made

the snapping noise with my lips.

“Whapushhh…”

Instantly, his hand reached over and

started to tickle me silly, causing him to

swerve. Squealing, I grabbed his arm in

an attempt to get him to stop. His hand

slowed and dipped between my thighs.

My heart stopped beating as we looked

at each other in surprise. He pulled back

and ran his fingers through his hair.

“I’m sorry, Vy.”

I knew he was upset he got carried

away. I shook my head and unsnapped

my seat belt to scoot up on my knees,

and leaned over the armrest to kiss him

on the cheek. “Shhh…you could never

do anything to upset me, remember?”

The smile returned to his face as

we rode the rest of the way in a

comfortable silence. Pulling up to the

valet of a beautiful hotel I suddenly felt

very under dressed. “Shepard, you could

have told me to look a little nicer!” My

ballet flats and rolled up jeans were out

of place on the upscale brick street.

“Nonsense, Violet, you look fine.

Besides, look at what you just got out of;

no one cares about your appearance.

Sorry, it’s true.”

Taking a second look, he was right

– no one was concerned. It was all in my

head. Gently grasping my hand, he

pulled me through an alley to the side of

the hotel. I wanted to ask where we

were going, but he moved as if he had

been there before. A long metal fence

held a small opening into a large garden.

Paths lined with cedar chips wound

through the multi acre private park.

Realizing this was behind the hotel, I

was blown away by how well it was

hidden. Massive pine trees with heavy

boughs

provided

shade

as

you

approached a man-made pond with a

fountain in the center. Large lily pads

and lotus flowers floated delicately on

the surface. White swans left small

ripples in their wake as they lazily

drifted across. We walked unhurriedly

along the trails, admiring the beauty and

solitude. It felt nice getting to stretch our

legs after sitting for a while.

“I like this place, it’s very serene.”

Still holding my hand, he began to swing

it back and forth in wide movements.

“I thought you would.”

“You seem to know quite a few

things that I would like. Are you sure

this isn’t my imagination?”

“No, you’re just predictable.” I

stopped which caused him to jerk back

slightly.

“Wow, you are really pushing it

today! I am not predictable.”

He started to chuckle again as if he

knew a joke I wasn’t getting.

“Yes you are, it’s easy. If it’s old

and pretty you like it, simple as that.”

My face dropped, was it that

uncomplicated?

“Hey, it’s okay. It’s a good thing,

it’s great actually. It’s one of my favorite

things about you. You don’t need all of

this, but you appreciate it. Do you know

how many people walk back here and

never see things the way I know that you

do? There are people who work their

asses off to make sure this place looks

immaculate, yet no one notices. They

only recognize when something is

wrong. But with you, I can tell by

following your eyes you absorb every

detail and soak it in. You touch and

smell everything; all of your senses are

at work. It’s breathtaking.”

“Um, okay…isn’t that what you

said when you would watch me diddling

in the tub?”

A red flush came over his cheeks,

causing me to start laughing hysterically.

Playfully irritated, he tugged my arm

again to lead me back out to the street

and down through a row of shops. I was

intrigued by all of the stores selling salt.

He told me this region has been famous

for centuries because of salt mining,

especially the more you went into

Austria. There was also a massive candy

shop so bright and sweet looking, my

teeth hurt just walking past it.

I purchased a small hatpin to

remind me of this stop before we wound

our way through the small town.

Fountains of all sizes adorned the city,

from very small to one that was nearly a

city block long. It was a wall fountain

over two stories tall where water

dripped down a twig type of covering. A

sign said it was called The Gradierhaus.

In front of that was a gigantic stone

fountain with beach type wooden

recliners all around it and a handful of

senior citizens sun lounging.

Every few feet we seemed to pass

another display or sculpture.

“What is this place?”

Holding his hand up over his eyes

to guard it from the sun, he walked a few

feet before answering.

“It’s called Kur Gardens. It means

spa garden. Bad Reichenhall is a big ski

town in the winter, but in the warmer

seasons, people come for the healing

properties of the salt and alpine waters.”

Beyond the park, I could see

vibrant frescos painted on the sides of

the buildings. This place did seem

aesthetically appealing in every way.

“Is there some pool or something I

can jump in and get healed?” I was being

sarcastic, but at this point, I would try

anything.

“Sorry, Violet, there’s not enough

water in the ocean to help you.”

I cringed even though it was a joke.

“Oh, burn!”

Knocking my shoulder with his, I

stumbled off the concrete path into a

flowerbed where I fell flat on my butt in

the dirt. My hands were crushing the

beautiful plants, and I was frightened by

what sort of damage my rear did. As he

extended a hand to me, all I could see

was a shadow surrounded by the rays of

the sun, as if Shepard were an eclipse.

Taking hold, he gently pulled me to a

standing position. I brushed my back end

off with my hand, yet mud was caked

into the denim.

“Are you sure I can’t do anything to

upset you?” he asked while looking at

my hands and pants skeptically.

I shook my head. “Of course not, it

was an accident. Why would I get mad,

it’s kind of funny? It’s just dirt. Here, I

will show you.”

I started to chase Shepard around

the grass with my muddy hands

determined to get some part of him

soiled as revenge. His foot looked like it

caught a rock causing him to trip and fall

forward.

“Ha, ha, ha! Serves you right,

karma’s a bitch!” I approached him a

little closer and he grabbed my ankle

and knocked me to the ground next to

him. Catching me softly in his arms, he

rolled over, pinning me beneath him.

“What do you know about fate,

Violet? How do you know that I didn’t

do this on purpose just so I could show

you that you are not in control?”

I tried to lift my hips to buck him

off but he was too strong. As I twisted

my wrist to escape his grasp, they began

to burn. “Shepard, what are you doing?”

Still fighting with all of my strength, it

was useless as he held me on my back

effortlessly, cackling loudly. Not being

able to escape ignited the panic in my

nerves. Even with the extra jolt of

adrenaline, I was helpless and growing

nauseous.

“Please…stop…,” I whimpered.

Realizing something was wrong, he

quickly let go and backed away enough

to see my tear streaked face.

“Oh my God, Violet, I am so sorry,

I was just playing.” Pulling me into his

lap, he started to rock back and forth

frantically.

I curled into his chest, clutching his

shirt, unable to stop crying. Once again, I

looked like a crazy idiot in public with

him. He didn’t seem to care while

holding me in his arms, trying to soothe

me. Doing the breathing exercises I

learned to help when I didn’t have

medication handy, I was able to calm

down.

“Violet, honey, I’m so sorry. I

didn’t mean it.” He kept rubbing his jaw

along the side of my face with a voice of

remorse.

“I know. It’s okay.” I was

exhausted by the outburst combined with

the time change. Feeling as though I

could fall asleep in his arms, I wiggled

my way out into a standing position.

Following me as I started to walk back

towards the hotel, not another word was

said as we waited for the car to be

returned. Refusing to go in covered in

mud; he pulled around to the lot next to

the park so I could change into

something clean.

“Are you sure there isn’t some

magic pool I can jump in here? I’m

totally ready!”

Resorting to humor to lighten the

situation, he circled the car and hugged

me tightly. Feeling his heart beat

pounding into the side of my face I

squeezed him back. It wasn’t his fault I

was this way, yet he was forced to deal

with the aftermath. I knew I couldn’t

keep it all in forever and it was going to

come out sooner than later. With a kiss

on the forehead he opened the car door

for me to slide in.

“No magic pools, but I have a

pretty sweet bathtub I think you’re going

to like. First, we need to get some food.

I planned on taking you to the hotel to

eat, but we can go somewhere else if

you’d like.”

Knowing I ruined his plan, I asked

if it was too late. Leaving the car in the