The Barren Thorns: I Know You ✔️

Chapter 8: Crimson & Clover

Author's Note: Just a reminder, The Barren Thorns has a Spotify playlist that I suggest. For each chapter published, there are 3-5 songs that set the aesthetic, somewhat. Really it's just a great playlist of rock songs. Each chapter's playlist starts with the chapter title song. Find it here: https://open.spotify.com/user/lilyfedorko/playlist/0CQIXOMPlBEiYe6Wa6xGzM?si=pzkoHmUJTIKNuoI7xW4p5Q - it's titled The Barren Thorns if you are to search it.

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Let's rock and roll...

"Stop peeking!" Desmond scolded as I tried to separate his fingers over my eyes. "Are you ready?" I tried to nod my head as our bodies came to a stop. "Alright, ta da!" He said uncovering my eyes. In front of me was the most beautiful house I'd ever seen. Stylistically, the red brick house was an expansive country-style layout. There were beautiful, white, framed and shuttered windows and it sat on a sprawling property with a garden partially visible at the rear. I looked at Desmond who was watching my face with nervous energy radiating off him. "Please say something, Boneen." He pleaded.

"I cannot believe you did this." I gaped.

"Say more things. I can't tell if you're happy or cheesed off." He urged. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and began jumping around on the gravel driveway.

"I love it. I love you. Thank you. I could never repay you for all you've done. And now you've bought a new house for us because of my dream." Tears were filling my eyes.

"You've changed my life in these last two months. You've given me more than you can ever know. I know it's fast and impulsive but I wanted to have something that was a fresh start for both of us." He said looking nervous again. I took his hand in mine and smiled. I could tell he had something more to say.

For the last five weeks, we have been living in his London flat most of the time. I've been founding the London branch of the blog I work for and therefore have been promoted. It has been a crazy whirlwind in that time so the fact that he'd had time for this was miraculous to me. Desmond had told me that he wanted to find a place where it would be ours, not only his. I'd been nervous about buying something so soon in our relationship, everything has been happening so fast.

Well, not everything. We still haven't had sex. He wanted to make it perfect by his own standards. "I put it in your name. If, God forbid, this doesn't work out," he motioned between the two of us. "I want you to have this place, ok?"

"Des, I could never," I denied shaking my head. This estate must have cost more money than all the money I've seen in my lifetime.

"Please, darling?" He begged and his voice was so sincere I could do nothing other than nod at him. Plus, if something did happen, we'd address it then. "Do you want to see the house?" He offered kissing my cheek and I grinned.

"I can't believe this place," I murmured and Desmond pulled out a set of keys with a four-leaf clover key chain and another with a Chicago-style hotdog keychain.

I smiled and he handed me the clover with a wink. "So, you'll think of me when I'm not home."

"I love it," I beamed. He unlocked the front door and threw it open. I stepped in and grinned. The interior had obviously been renovated. The entryway had hardwood floors and opened to a large grand staircase. Walking through to the left was a gorgeous living room with jewel tone velvet couches, a flat screen tv mounted to the wall above a fireplace, a plush white carpet, and one wall that was entirely comprised of book cases from floor to ceiling. "How?" I half asked walking to them.