Velvet Roses Ch. 16

"And just so we're clear, if you back out of this deal in any way at all, our agreement will be voided."

"Yes, of course," Slade said. "You win, I lose, point taken. Now run along and fuck off, won't you?"

A hint of a smile touched Kenichi's lips. "Pleasure doing business with you too, Slade."

Slade's henchmen parted to allow them access through the door, and once they'd made their way downstairs and exited the club, they walked across the parking lot to where their cars were located. They reached Dane's Prius first, and after hitting the button his key fob to unlock the doors, he turned to face Kenichi.

"Thank you doesn't cover my appreciation for what you did, Kenichi."

"No big deal. You've saved my ass a couple of times yourself, remember?"

Dane did, and his mind briefly flashed back to all of the heists he'd pulled for Kenichi. More than a few had involved nearly being captured by the police, and on several occasions, he'd even been detained.

But not once had Dane ever given up Kenichi's names or whereabouts, and although he'd been uncertain at the time if Kenichi would show him the same loyalty, it had now been proven to him that his acts of allegiance hadn't gone in vain.

"Anyways, I'm gonna get out of here," Kenichi said. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

"Yeah, you too."

The two men exchanged a handshake before parting ways, and as Kenichi headed to his car, Dane slid behind the wheel of his own vehicle. And with thoughts of Jeneda waiting at home in bed for him, he put his car into gear and sped off out of the parking lot.

* * * *

Having just spent the day running their own respective errands, Dane and Jeneda chose to meet up at a French Café called La Boulange for a late lunch. Three weeks had passed since Dane's release from jail, and while the giddy happiness of once again being together had worn off somewhat, they were still enjoying that feeling of 'newness' that came along with the beginning of a relationship.

And yet, although it felt as if they hadn't been a couple for very long, nine months had elapsed since they'd first met one another. Of course seven of those months had been spent apart while Dane was in jail, but that had only strengthened their bond to each other.

And now, as they sat at a table eating club sandwiches in a busy café in the neighborhood of Pacific Heights, they found themselves focusing only on the present.

"So, how did things go with your parents?" Jeneda asked before taking a generous bite of her sandwich.

"Good. As always, my mom was glad to see me, and my dad was actually friendly this time, so I think he's pretty much over being upset."

"That's great. Glad to hear he's forgiven you."

"Speaking of dad's, what about yours? Has there been any progress at all?"

She lightly shook her head. "Nope. He's still ignoring my calls, and when I send emails they go unanswered."

"Sorry to hear."

Her shoulders pulled into a light shrug. "Yeah, well...it is what is it."

For a long moment Dane just stared at her, as if trying to read her thoughts. But as moments passed and she remained quiet, he seemed to sense that she wasn't going to open up on her own.

"If you want to talk about it, I'm here for you. You know that, right?"

She nodded, but kept her eyes focused on her plate of food.

"And even if you don't feel comfortable opening up to me and need some space and time alone, I'm okay with that, too." He reached out to take her hand in his, then lightly stroked the back of it with his thumb. "It's because of me that he's even mad at you, so the last thing I would be is offended if you ever wanted to spend a few days without me around."

"Alienating myself from you Isn't going to help things, so the last thing I want is to push you away."

"Okay." He smiled weakly, then brought her hand up to his lips and gently kissed it. "Just thought I'd let you know."

He unlaced his fingers from hers to finish the rest of his sandwich, and for the next few minutes, they ate with only the chattering of the other patrons to fill the quiet space between them.

Soon, the only food remaining on their plates were crusts of bread and a few stray French fries, and it was only then that Jeneda finally broke the lull in their conversation.

"If my father chooses to stay angry at me, then that's just something I'll have to deal with. But it definitely hurts to know that he's cut me out of his life." She fiddled absentmindedly with the straw in her iced tea while Dane eagerly waited for her to continue. "At first I thought it would just be temporary...something he would eventually get over, but It's been nearly eight months since we last spoke."

"Has he been in touch with your mom at all?"

"They talk every now and again."

"And has she shared their conversations with you?"

"Yeah, a bit." She paused for a moment to collect her emotions. "She says that he's still really hurt, but that he wants to forgive me...."

"So there's hope." Dane's face brightened.

"...but that he just doesn't know how to go about doing that, and as long as I'm with you, he doesn't think he can be a part of my life."

"Oh." His face dropped, and his Adam's apple bobbed as he gave a dry swallow. "So clearly It's me that's keeping you two from reconciling."

"Yes, but there's no reason to feel guilty about it. If he wants to disown me, then let him. It won't stop me from living my life, and it definitely won't keep me from being happy with you."

Dane reached across the table to grab her hand, and as he laced his fingers through hers, she was certain that she saw his eyes grow moist.

"I'll always love my father," she continued, "and I'll never give up hope of him forgiving me. But at this point, the ball is in his court so there's really not a whole lot I can do."

Dane lightly nodded, and with a look which conveyed how sorry he was for her, he said, "Things will work out for you two, Jeneda. They'll have to, eventually."

"Will they?" Her tone of voice made it clear that she was doubtful, and her eyes peered questioningly into Dane's, as if he could give her the answer she was seeking.

He only smiled sadly in return, then cradled her chin with his fingertips and leaned in closer so that the distance was closed between them. Their mouths met in a kiss that was soft and gentle, and although it lasted for only a brief moment, it was just what Jeneda needed to chase the lingering feelings of sorrow away. As their lips detached, she was left wanting more, but the depth of her lover's eyes only seemed to heighten the tenderness of the moment.

"You ready to go?" Dane softly asked.

Jeneda nodded and they both rose to their feet. She grabbed her leather handbag from beside the chair, and after slinging it over her shoulder, she slipped her fingers through his. Then together they walked hand in hand out of the café.

* * * *

The Gothic cathedral stretched 247 feet into the cloudless evening sky, looming over Dane and Jeneda as they ascended the wide flight of steps that led to its interior. Situated on top of San Francisco's Nob Hill, the church was a stunning imitation of Notre Dame.

From the regal double towers that contained English bells, to the intricate sculptural details that made up the façade, the steel and concrete sanctuary was nothing less than an artistic and architectural marvel.

The sun had set long ago, leaving the night sky a deep shade of blue, and at twenty minutes past eight, the weather was characteristically windy, yet pleasantly balmy. Jeneda's attire for the evening was a pair of slim cut black jeans, tall leather boots, and a fitted plum sweater that tastefully accentuated her curves.

Dressed in all black except for a dark red velvet blazer, Dane made a handsome vision, and although Jeneda had looked at him countless times that evening, she couldn't help but steal another admiring glance at him. He returned her gaze with one of equal adoration, and as they reached the 16-foot bronze double doors that led into the cathedral, he pushed them open and gestured for her to enter.

From the very first moment that she stepped across the threshold, Jeneda was struck by the extraordinary beauty of the Neo-Gothic interior, and as her eyes swept up to take in the 90-foot vaulted ceilings, her breath was literally taken away.

It wasn't just the colorful stained glass windows and sweeping archways, but also the domed ceilings and tall, thin pillars that made her feel as if she'd been transported to a European country.

The faint scent of lemon furniture polish hung in the air, along with the smell of burning candles, and as she noticed the countless rows of wooden pews that stretched before them, it suddenly struck her that she and Dane were the only two people in sight.

Intrigued by the complete absence of parishoners, she stole a glance at Dane as if to silently question him, but all he did was give her a little smile.

As they continued to walk forward, their soft footsteps reverberated off the walls. The white marble floors gleamed like polished ice beneath their feet, reflecting the soft light that shone from above, and as her eyes came to rest on a candle-lit altar, she headed straight toward it.

Dane followed beside her, and as they came to a stop in front of the elevated structure, they both gazed in silent reverence at it.

Dozens of candles surrounded the altar, which was decorated with tiny statues of important religious figures, as well as small crucifixes, and half a dozen tea lights.

The soft glow of the candles only enhanced the ethereal atmosphere of the magnificent church, and threw dancing shadows against the smooth stone walls.

It wasn't until she felt Dane grab her hand that she was broken from her spell-like daze, and as he laced his fingers through hers, she turned her head to look at him.

"This place is amazing." Her voice had taken on a light, breathy quality, and there was a sparkle in her eyes. "All this time I've been living in San Francisco, and not once have I ever thought to come here."

A light smile touched his lips, and he gently stroked his thumb against the back of her hand. "It's kind of a hidden jewel. I like to come here sometimes, when I feel uncertain or a little lost."

This proclamation caused Jeneda to look intently at him, and she felt something inside of her respond to his willingness to expose the vulnerable side of himself.

"When we were broken up, I came here nearly every weekend." His averted his attention back to the candles on the altar, and his eyes took on a faraway look as he recalled the past. "I'll never forget how desperate and hopeless I was. It was a terrible feeling, not having you in my life."

Sensing he would say more, she remained quiet, admiring the way that the candles illuminated the sharp angles of his porcelain face.

"Most evenings I just roamed the streets, trying to take my mind off things, and eventually I ended up here." A faint smile crossed his lips as if he were recalling something funny, and as he looked back into her eyes, she met his gaze. "I used to show up so regularly that the priest actually knew me by name."

Jeneda smiled, and as he continued his story, she listened on.

"Anyways, we ended up befriending each other, and it turns out that he's actually a childhood friend of my father's."

"Wow, I guess it really is a small world, huh?" Jeneda asked.

"Yep." He tugged lightly on her hand to coax her away from the altar, then led her to another area of the church.

They walked in silence, allowing their eyes to rove across murals which depicted a diversity of figures from haloed saints, to archangels. Except for the sound of their shoes against the marble floor, a tranquil quietness surrounded them, and if not for her intense curiosity, Jeneda would have chosen to remain quiet.

"So, not that it matters or anything..." she began, and as Dane turned his head to look at her, she continued to speak. "But I thought I remembered you saying that you weren't religious."

"I'm not, but you don't really have to be in order to appreciate how remarkable this place is."

"That's true," she softly said, and as Dane continued to gently lead her by the hand, she followed beside him. "Just out of curiosity, how exactly are we allowed to roam around in here without any supervision?"

"Just because you don't see anyone else around, that doesn't mean we're alone," he simply said.

"But It's nearly ten p.m. What cathedral stays open this late?"

"None that I know of, but as I told you before, I'm friends with the priest, and he's agreed to do this favor for me."

"I see. Well that was nice of him." A thoughtful look came onto her face, but she didn't say another word.

They spent the next few minutes admiring the opulent stained glass windows and beautiful sculptures, and only once they'd had their visual fill, did they exit the sanctuary and head back out into the night.

The temperature had dropped a few degrees during the forty minutes they'd been inside, but the weather was still fairly mild, so instead of heading back to the car, they chose to take a stroll through the cathedral's garden.

It was beautifully maintained, with an abundance of delicate looking flowers and colorful plants. A curving stone walkway was illuminated by lamp posts which were hexagonal in shape, and reminiscent of the Victorian-era.

Ornamental trees were placed in strategic locations to enhance the quaintness of the garden, and the fragrance of jasmine and honeysuckle perfumed the surrounding air. Walking hand in hand, Dane and Jeneda leisurely ambled through the immaculately kept grounds, eyeing the vine-covered trellises and cast iron garden benches.

Stone gargoyles perched atop deep fountain basins added a dramatic accent to the garden, as well as soothing sounds of gently flowing water. As an arched foot bridge came into sight, Jeneda instantly found herself drawn towards it, and with a gentle tug on Dane's hand, she led the way towards it.

The wooden planks of the small bridge creaked slightly beneath their weight, yet instead of continuing along to the other side of the garden, they both stopped in the middle of the bridge to gaze at the moonlight that reflected off the surface of the pond.

An inner tranquility pervaded Jeneda's entire being, and as she continued to drink in the stunning sight before her, she felt Dane wrap his arms around her waist. Gently, he brushed her hair over her shoulder.

Then there was the delicious sensation of his soft lips pressing against her neck. A breathy noise emitted from her mouth, and as she tilted her chin upward to offer him a kiss, he eagerly leaned in to taste her full lips.

Their mouths moved slowly and sensually, savoring every moment of the oral embrace. It didn't take long before Jeneda's mind became foggy, and soon, everything else around her became insignificant.

All she could focus on was Dane, and the way his lips moved against hers with such passionate intensity. Her hands moved upward to tangle in his wavy hair, and as their kiss intensified, she moaned into his mouth.

It wasn't until they pulled apart that she was finally able to catch her breath, but before she even had a moment to snap out of her lust induced haze, Dane had taken her hand in his and began pulling her along behind him.

Once they were off the bridge, he led her down a stone pathway that was adorned on either side by flowering lavender. Then they carefully walked across a row of stepping stones that traversed a shallow pond. It seemed that with each step they took, Dane's eagerness increased, and as they continued along the winding garden path, Jeneda began to wonder just how far they were going to walk.

The thought had just barely gone through her mind when she spotted a free-standing, roofed structure, and as she realized that it was a white lattice gazebo covered in blooming red roses, her brows lifted in surprise.

Along with the flowers which adorned it, the gazebo was also covered in fairy lights, which sparkled and cast a warm, romantic glow. Stunned by the sight of the beautifully decorated structure, Jeneda walked tentatively towards it, as if afraid that it would somehow vanish into thin air.

From the corner of her eye she could see Dane intently studying her reaction, and as she turned her head to look at him, his lips curved into a soft smile.

"So, what do you think?" He asked in eager expectation.

"Dane, this is beautiful."

She slowly climbed the steps of the octagon shaped structure, and as she realized there were red and white candles encircling the center of the gazebo, she came to a complete stop. The next thing she noticed was the bottle of champagne that was resting in a bucket of ice, and that was when she suddenly realized that this had all been planned out.

"What is this all about?" She curiously asked. "Why did you really bring me out here?"

"Take a guess." Dane's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"I don't know," she softly said.

"I think you do."

Her eyes drifted from Dane's face back to the bottle of champagne, then to the candles before roving upward to gaze at the fairy lights and roses that ensconced the gazebo.

"This was all planned out. You had this gazebo specially decorated for tonight."

"Yes, I did," he said matter-of-factly. "I only get one shot at doing this, so I had to make sure that it was absolutely perfect."

She barely had time to process what was happening before he retrieved a small velvet box from the pocket of his blazer, then he bent down on one knee in front of her.

Jeneda's heart quickened and her breath caught in her throat, and as he slowly opened the lid of the small box, she saw there was a sparking engagement ring inside. Her hand flew to her chest and she drew in a quick breath, and in wide-eyed astonishment, she stared down at it.

The ring was fashioned from twists of white gold that flowed into a stunning round diamond, which was not only exquisitely cut, but also astonishingly clear. Jeneda hadn't seen many diamonds in her life, but even she knew that the nearly pure white gemstone was virtually flawless.

Still rendered breathless by the surreal moment, she found herself struggling to catch her breath, and as Dane gazed adoringly up at her, she waited for him to speak.

"You're the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. The one who's stood by me and accepted me for who I am. I absolutely adore you, and can't imagine ever being without you." He swallowed nervously, then briefly paused before asking, "Jeneda Larkson, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

"Yes." She nodded slowly, then in a voice that wavered with emotion, she said, "Yes, I'll be your wife.

Dane carefully took the ring from the box, then took her hand in his and slipped the band on her finger. Her eyes became moist and her vision blurred, and as he lifted her hand to his lips and placed a kiss just above the ring on her finger, a single tear fell from her eye.

Dane rose to his feet, and holding her firmly by the hips, sealed his mouth to hers in a deliciously languid, juicy kiss.

She returned the oral embrace with heated passion, and as his palms came to rest against the small of her back, she moaned softly into his mouth. Then wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him even closer.

Neither wanted to pull away, but both were aware that their current location wasn't the proper place to fully indulge their desires, so with great reluctance, they pulled apart.

"I didn't expect you to cry." Dane gave her a little smile, then gingerly wiped the single tear from her cheek before gracing the tip of her nose with a gentle kiss. "But I'm guessing that's a sign I made you happy."

"I'm more than happy, I'm thrilled."