The Ties That Bind Us: (The Ties Duet Part One) Danda K. (dark academia books to read TXT) 📖

feel as safe as I possibly could with Jaxon, as safe as someone like me can. Could it be possible he wants me too?

He brings his lips to my ear and whispers, “You. Are. Stunning.”

The feeling of his lips grazing my skin has my chest rising and falling so fast you’d think I’d just skydived without a parachute. Before I’m able to respond I hear him say, “Open your eyes.”

So I do, and out of every single thing I could have conjured up in my head as to where he’d be taking me, I never ever would’ve thought of this. I had no idea this place even existed.

In front of me is the most gorgeous carousel I’ve ever seen. Encased in a beautiful, clear glass structure, hundreds of horses and other animals slowly move up and down and around in a circle. The light emanating from the glass building has a blue hue that perfectly matches the gorgeous city at night.

The lights from the Manhattan skyline behind it look like stars twinkling in the night sky. It’s absolutely breathtaking.

Looking down at me, he nods his head towards the carousel and says, ”Look, it shines blue. Just like the sun.”

I close my eyes again, feeling tears well underneath my lids, not from sadness, but from an overwhelming feeling of happiness. I feel happy for the first time in my life. I look up at him in awe. I can’t put together a sentence. Nothing.

“How?” my voice cracks, and it’s all I can manage.

“It’s called Jane’s Carousel. I couldn’t believe this wasn’t on your list when I read it, but I just knew you had to see it. And I wanted to be the one to show you,” he responds honestly. “No more lists, Nyx. I’m gonna take you everywhere on that wish-list of yours. You’re going to experience everything on it and then burn it. From now on, you’re gonna live life first hand, not on the sidelines.”

He leads me towards the beautiful carousel. “Starting with this.”

Fifteen

Jaxon

Bullseye. Cameron loves it. Just like I knew she would.

“Are we able to ride it?” she asks, hopeful.

I look down at her and say, “There’s not a motherfucker in the world I’d allow to ever tell you no.” Cameron needs to understand I’m bat-shit crazy about her.

“Could have used a you a few years ago when that’s all I would tell myself,” she says jokingly, but I know she means it.

“We’ll get to that later. Right now, we’re going to ride the most beautiful carousel in New York City.” I reach for her hand, and she accepts it.

We walk up to the ticket booth, and I request two tickets to ride. I glance at her, is she serious right now? With the sternest voice I can muster without freaking her out, I order, “Put that wallet away, STAT.”

She looks back up at me with guilt in her eyes. “You’ve been paying for everything since we started hanging out.”

Okay, and?

“Uh, yeah. I brought myself up better than that.” I pause, knowing her already. “And before you go all feminist on my ass, you should know...” Another pause. “I don’t give a shit.” I take her wallet from her. “You will not be paying for anything when you’re out with me.”

She rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue. Good. Because she sure as hell would have lost that one. I’ve bowed out of arguments with her over some things, but this one is my absolute. It’s not that I think I’m this alpha male who has to take care of the delicate lady, no. But I will never invite a woman somewhere to show her a good time and then have her pay for the experience I offered. I wanna be the one to give it to her.

I retrieve the tickets from the man behind the booth, and we begin to walk up the steps. Those big, beautiful brown eyes are sparkling against the lights shining down from the ceiling. She smiles calmly as if there’s no other place she’d rather be.

“So...horse, tiger, or gondola?” I ask her as I look around at all the options.

“The butterfly,” she says, without hesitation, pointing behind the bend where I can’t quite see.

My God, this girl astounds me. I don’t know if she chose the animal representing rebirth and metamorphosis on purpose, but she will get what she wants.

I choose the tiger next to her for two obvious reasons. It’s closest to where she is, and choosing a cousin of Magnet’s is also a nod to my best friend at home.

We climb aboard our metal animals and wait for the ride to start. She isn’t attempting conversation with me right now, and that’s okay. This is about her. I enjoy just watching her examine the butterfly she’s sitting on. And when she uses her index finger to trace the outline of the wing, my dick twitches. I imagine how good those soft fingers would feel around me.

Don’t start that shit, Jaxon. There are children here, and nobody wants their good time to be distracted by your gigantic hard-on.

The ride comes to life, just like this beautiful girl.

It starts off slowly spinning, and I watch as Cameron takes a deep breath and wraps her hands around the pole. Nope, not going there. 

She closes her eyes and tilts her head back slightly as the ride picks up speed. Her beautiful wavy hair is now dancing behind her in the wind. Her mouth parts slightly, and I swear to God, this girl is a work of art. She has no idea how beautiful she is.

Forget Helen of Troy, Cameron’s beauty could launch every ship on the fucking planet to go to war on her behalf.

I watch as she goes up and down, zoned out and smiling. When the ride is at full speed, she releases her hands from the pole and raises them out beside her, embracing the force of the wind.

She’s let go...in more ways than one.

She grips the pole again, and the look on her face