~ A Faire Keltic Renaissance ~

by

*lizzie starr

"If you don’t mind sitting in the grass, there’s a great spot just a little further overlooking the pond."

"Let’s go." Wanting to erase the doubt from his eyes, she waited until he nodded then threaded her fingers through his. He smiled, a gentle, sweet smile, a smile so innocently sensuous she probably needed to jump into that cold pond, not sit next to it.

"This is the reason I had to leave yesterday. I bought this land." Jayse stopped and took her hand with his then spread his arms. "I first saw the area when I was nine, riding my bike along the old railroad tracks. I knew, even then, someday this would be mine. I even told the farmer who owned it that I would buy this whole section. He didn’t even laugh at me."

"Why would he laugh?"

Jayse shuffled his feet through the ankle-high, dried grass. "I was twelve at the time."

"Oh. Not many kids have a dream like that--one they carry with them into adulthood. I admire such dedication."

"That’s not all of the dream, Lucidea. Before today, I’ve only told one other person about my plans."

The fear returned to haunt his eyes, the doubt strong enough to dull the excited sparkle. What was he afraid to tell her? Why? "What’s troubling you, Jayse?"

He shook his head and angled to face the pond.

"Don’t turn away from me, Jaysson whatever your middle name is Zeroun. Tell me what’s wrong."

"Allen."

"Huh?"

"My middle name’s Allen. Sit with me?"

After she nodded, he held her hand as she folded her legs into a cross-legged position, then lowered himself so he sat facing her. Knowing he’d speak when ready, she waited in silence. Content with watching him, Lucidea let her gaze lose partial focus until it was as if she looked at him both with her physical eyes and with her mind’s eye.

A faint, rainbow-colored haze surrounded him, the colors swirling and pulsing like the beat of a heart. But, she wanted to see the sparkles, even though she was sure that she had only imagined the tiny silver lights. Sparkles meant magic, after all, and unlike her, Jayse was human. She gnawed at her bottom lip to hold back the sudden onslaught of a silly grin. She’d done it. She saw his aura without really trying.

Focusing her gaze on his face, she guiltily released her lower lip. Jayse watched her intently, but the moment her eyes locked with his, he glanced away and stared over her shoulder.

"The first date," he began slowly, "my parents had was to a small renaissance faire at the Arthur Hills winery. Until a few years ago when the faire outgrew the space they had available, the winery held a faire every spring. My family attended religiously. It’s almost a compulsion with us--much like seeing every production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream."

"Shakespeare?"

Nodding, Jayse gave her a crooked grin. "You’d be amazed at how my family connects to that play."

A great deal remained hidden behind that statement, and Lucidea vowed to eventually find out those secrets. The possibilities, vague and fleeting, intrigued her, but the distraction wasn’t enough to pull her from learning more now.

"Okay, so your family loves Shakespeare and ren faires."

"It wasn’t just owning this land that’s been my dream for--oh, all my life. It’s the development of the land. Look around you with your artistic eyes, Lucidea. Over there, winding through the copse of trees, lanes filled with small shops and pavilions. On the flat area at the top of that hill, in an area surrounded by colorful flags armored knights upon battle ready steeds await a tournament. And here, were we sit, a castle, built in traditional fashion of timber, stone and mortar, home to spectacular fêtes and feasts. In the pond, fountains shower the still water with sound."

Jayse closed his eyes and she held her breath waiting for him to continue. Waiting for him to look at her again. He spoke without opening his eyes.

"That’s my dream, Lucidea. To own a permanent faire site. A place with facilities for parties and receptions, a place for lovers of fantasy and history to come together." A faint, ruddiness colored his cheeks. "I’ve even been building a model of the castle--since I was ten."

Finally, his lids lifted, exposing dark, cloudy apprehension. Lucidea blinked, even the swirl of colors in his aura had slowed, becoming murky and dull. Realization dawned in her. He was afraid of what she would say to his admission to a life long love of--fantasy. The beat of her heart surged with hope. Maybe there was a chance for them.

"What happened the last time you told someone about this?"

"You mean other than when I told my folks today?" His gaze skittered to the side. "She laughed. Not to my face, but later."

Foolish woman. With a response like that, the... she didn’t deserve a man like Jayse. "Idiot."

"What?" He jerked as he faced her, the honey-brown of his eyes turning to chocolate.

She was an idiot, too. He thought she’d meant the word about him. "No, Jayse. I mean she was an idiot for not admiring you. Your dedication to a dream. Too many people either don’t have a dream, or lose sight of it somewhere along the way." The warmth of his hand when she touched him made her smile softly.

The tentative return of a smile brought light back to his eyes and a faint shower of silver sparkles to the aura she forgot she could see. "Oh."

"Lucidea? What’s--"

"Nothing. Just a stray thought. I think your plans sound wonderful. I can’t imagine how great it will be to have something like this so close to home."

"Thank you. That means a lot."

"So, how soon do I have to have my outfit done?"

Instead of answering, Jayse leaned forward, planting his hands on the ground at either side of her hips. The breath caught in her throat and she nervously licked her lips. He was going to kiss her.

"What’s you’re middle name?" he whispered.

"Huh?" That wasn’t the usual prelude to a kiss.

"I told you my middle name. Now, I’m asking yours."

"Anne."

His mouth hovered only a breath away from hers. "Nicknames?"

She wanted to shout ‘just kiss me’, knew that if she tilted her face a little to the right, she could initiate the kiss. But she wanted him to be the one... yes, she wanted him to be the one. "No, not that I like anyway." Her voice softened to the barest of whispers. "Except when Daddy called me Dea Annie."

"Dea Annie, I’m going to kiss you."

"I know. Please..."

He lifted his hand to cup her cheek and she covered his hand with hers. Gentle pressure of his fingers created the final angle and she closed her eyes. Warm, firm lips touched hers and she swallowed her verbal response of longing. Ah, even better than she imagined. He slowly moved his mouth and touched the tip of his tongue to the seam of her lips. There was no question in her mind as she parted her lips and invited him with the quick touch of her own tongue.

Leaning her back as he crawled forward, Jayse slid his hand from her cheek to the back of her head, cushioning her against the hard ground. He sprawled beside her, pulling her close against him, trailing quick kisses along her jaw before returning to possess her mouth.

Lucidea threaded her fingers through his hair and held him close. The man could kiss... could kiss her senseless... and she wouldn’t care. He pulled away and stared down at her, his eyes bright with desire. He touched her cheek and she felt as though sparkles shot through her, igniting the blood in her veins. The analytical part of her mind attempted to decipher the odd experience, but feeling overtook logic. "Please."

Jayse grinned and stroked a strand of hair from her forehead. "Please, what, Dea Annie."

"Kiss me again."

The grin widened and she knew he was happy to oblige. When he pressed her close, she wrapped one leg over his and arched against him. He groaned into her mouth and danced his tongue along her inner lip.

An odd chime penetrated the sensual haze he created around her. Jayse lifted his face from hers and said, "Don’t answer that. Let voice mail pick up."

The chiming stopped but as he turned back and she searched for his lips, the phone rang again. "Jayse, that’s your phone."

"I know." He groaned and stared into her face. "Ignore it. This is better."

"Important?" she managed before he lowered his mouth to hers.

The annoying sound ended and she gave herself to his kisses.

Until the third time the phone rang. Then she shoved at his chest, but tempered her actions with a smile and a caress. "Three times, must be important."

Jayse rolled to his back and dug in his jeans pocket. Lucidea dragged her swollen lower lip between her teeth as he pulled the tiny phone from the tight, straining denim. He closed his eyes, tipped his head back to the ground, and cleared his throat before he answered. "This better be good."