"A secret between you and me." she nodded as he took her lips in yet another kiss.

He brushed her lips with the pad of his thumb as he said, "Wait here."

Saying this he went into a room and came back seconds later with a box in his hands. He placed the box wrapped with gift paper and ribbons in her hand.

"What is this?" she asked looking at him curiously.

He didn't say anything but gave her a heart-stoppingly beautiful smile as he went behind her and held her by her shoulders and pushed her towards one of the rooms the room. The room looked big with a bed in the centre.

"There is a bathroom," Ashton said pointing towards a closed door. "Go in there and change into this for me, please." He requested.

Looking at the excitement in his voice Lilly obliged. She was excited too. Hoping and wondering how the night would unfold.

She entered the bathroom and opened the gift box. The box contained a long evening gown made of silk with thin strips to support the clothing at shoulders.

She wore the dress and styled her hair in a messy side bun, letting the long fringes curl by her ears. When she finally looked at her reflection in the mirror her heart raced. This was for the first time she was dressing up in something this sexy for Ashton.

The dress was giving her a sexy feeling. The kind of feeling where she felt like an enchantress. She wasn't sure whether it was the erotic images that her brain was displaying or the excitement of being alone with Ashton which was making her heart beat fast. So fast that she thought it would jump out of her chest but she was loving this feeling.

She stepped out of the bathroom and found the bed covered with rose petals and small candles decorated the tables. But Ashton was nowhere to be seen.

"Ashton?'' she called for him but he didn't answer.

As she was about to call for him again she felt his presence behind her but before she could turn he placed a blindfold on her eyes.

"Ashton, what are you doing?" she asked touching the blindfold on her eyes.

"Shhh..." he whispered beside her ear. She could feel his breath as it raised the tiny hair on her neck.

"Don't make any noise. It's a surprise. Remember?"

She smiled at those words and he took her hand in his.

"Come," he said pulling her along with him.

"Ok but you know I am not very good with walking blindfolded. I don't want to end up on a hospital bed with fractured bones," she said nervously.

He chuckled at that. ''Don't worry, my wife. I will never let anything happen to you."

She wasn't sure if he said those words lightly in a joking manner or was he really serious but just those words from his mouth were enough to make her heart feel at ease. If he was there then everything would be alright, she smiled.

When he finally removed her blindfold she opened her eyes and found herself in the back garden. The garden was decorated beautifully with lights and all shades of roses. The sky had now turned dark and the light glimmered like fireflies. In the centre of the garden was a table decorated with a candle, pink roses and dishes.

She couldn't believe her eyes. Ashton had done so much for her. She couldn't hold the wide smile on her face.

"It's our first date so I just wanted to do something special for you," Ashton said from behind her.

"It's just so beautiful." she beamed at him.

This was her first date and was going to be the most memorable and amazing date, she smiled happily. She was grateful for this evening.

''May I?" he stretched his hand for her to take.

Smiling she placed her hand in his and he walked her to the table as he pulled the chair for her and she took her seat.

Oh! she loved the way he acted like a gentleman walking down the streets and like a devilish lover in between the sheets.

They started dinner. Slowly enjoying the delicacies as they both talked about all the good things in their life. Her family, Sam's birth and his first words while the only good talks of Ashton's life centred around his work and friends. They both had gone through so much but now at this moment they only wanted to see at the bright sun and not the shadows that they had lived in.

Lilly heard the soft beats of music change into a romantic song. She looked at Ashton and smiling he got up from his seat and walked to her side. Stretching his hand he asked, "Now would you like to have a dance with me, Mrs king?"

"With pleasure." she smiled placing her hand in his.

As they both moved slowly to the soft music Lilly rested her head on his chest as she wrapped her arms about his neck while he held her from her waist. Lilly could only wish for this moment to last for an eternity. She loved how they both had gotten so close to each other and the trust and feelings they had developed for each other.

She had never dreamt of such a beautiful phase in her life and she just wanted to stay like this forever and ever.

Ashton had never thought that he would pursue a woman like this. If two months ago someone had told him that he would go on a date, that he will decorate and prepare each and everything for that women. From roses used in decoration to the silk dress she had worn, he would arrange everything, that one day he would marry and make efforts to please his wife then he would have laughed at that stupid joke but now the women in his arms had made him do all that was once unthinkable. He smiled.

Whether it was a dream or reality whatever it was he liked it and for the first time in his life, he wished for something. He wished for this to last. He wanted it to last forever.

With her hands rested on his shoulders Lilly looked up in his eyes and at that moment they forgot the world. Nothing else matter. No one else mattered. It was just the two of them in their beautiful bubble.

She stood on her toes and kissed him on his lips. A long and deep kiss. A kiss of surrender. A kiss that was filled with love. Then she kissed his jaw and moved to his cheek. He smiled. He liked it whenever she took the lead. Whenever she kissed him like this.

Finally, she brought her mouth close to his ear and said, "I love you, Ashton King. I love you so much."

As she stepped back to look at his handsome face the expression she saw on his face was not something she had thought, imagined or expected.

He looked confused... angry. His eyes at that moment looked shocked and there was some other emotion that she couldn't quite name.

A cold chill ran down her spine as she worried and questioned herself if she had done anything wrong.

"What did you say?" he asked looking not so happy.

Now that she had finally worked herself up to this much courage she wasn't going to back down just because he was glaring at her. So with her head raised proudly she looked at him into his eyes as she repeated herself. Her heart hoping that he at least won't call her words a lie.

" I love you, Ashton," she repeated her confession.

"No." shaking his head he took a step back. The expression on his face was that of pain and disbelief. One of utter horror. He looked as if someone had stabbed him on his back.

This was not what she had expected. Lilly stood there. Stunned as her feet froze to the ground.