Chapter 38: "Porcelain Kiss"
I awoke early that morning with Mads fast asleep at my side and his muscular arm draped over my nude body.
If only I could live this way forever...
Careful not to wake him, I leant over and reached for the new cellphone I'd bought a month earlier in the pit of my handbag. The screen glowed brightly, which caused my tired eyes to squint, with one new message notification from my mother.
"Good morning Hun, hope you slept well and are ready for your big flight to London! Daddy and I were supposed to head back home earlier this morning, but we have decided to leave later on in the day so that we can see you off at the airport. Be sure to have all of your luggage with you and we'll see you in front of LAX at 10:00. Hugs and kisses! -Mom"
10:00... great.
I put my phone back into my purse and turned back over to face Mads, who was now wide awake.
"God morgen, min smukke engel." He smiled as he engulfed my body closer to his and passionately kissed my lips. "Today is the day."
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. "Yeah. It is."
"What time does your flight leave?"
"10:30... A.M."
He reached his arm out toward his nightstand and grabbed his glasses and Rolex.
"Hmmm... It looks like we only have two and a half hours until your departure."
"Seems that way." I huffed. "And I still need to gather the remainder of my belongings."
"You needn't worry about that." Mads took hold of my neck and kissed me yet again. "I'll have Cornelius take care of it all. Let's have some breakfast and then we'll drive to the airport."
We lingered in bed, cuddling up with each other, for another twenty minutes before we both realized that we needed to get up and face the unwanted day that lied ahead. I followed Mads into the shower where we enjoyed a rather heated make out session... among other things... and then threw back on the little black dress I wore the night before. Once downstairs, we sat out on his back patio and began to devour some delectable Danishes in the heat of the newly risen sun.
"How's the Danish?" He asked as he took a sip of his morning coffee.
"Which one?" I giggled sarcastically.
Mads' mouth formed itself into another beautiful grin and his canines peeked over the edge of his lower lip. "You know which one I'm referring to."
"Well..." I looked off into the morning sky and acted as though I was in deep thought. "It has an interesting flavor to it. It plays with your tongue... like sex in your mouth."
He shook his head and placed his hand onto his ribcage as he exposed a genuine line of laughter, much like the one he'd revealed back in Denmark when my mother had first spoken to him. I took pleasure in seeing him that way... playful, relaxed, and happy. Truly happy. I'd miss it. I mean, I knew that I'd miss a lot of the crazy quirks that made him seem all the more human, but his laughter... his laughter I'd miss the most.
"Ahh," Mads caught his breath. "I'm really going to miss your sense of humor, Elise."
He silently glanced down at his feet for a long moment with a strange neutral look of wonder in the corner of his eye, and for the first time, I hadn't the slightest clue what could possibly be running through his mind. He looked emotionless, like a man who has just been shot in the chest, but hasn't quite comprehended the fact that he is bleeding out and inevitably going to die. It was terrifying to see him in such a confused state and I was left unsure how to react.
What if my absence leads to his own personal destruction?
Or worse, my own?
********************
"Flight 92: one-way to London, please prepare for boarding."
After our morning breakfast together, Mads expressed that he couldn't bear the thought of watching me board the plane that took me away from him; he couldn't allow that image to be the last memory we had of each other. So, with one last prolonged cry and final kiss goodbye, he sent me on my way with Cornelius to LAX.
He made the right choice by parting with me like he did; in fact, I preferred it that way. It was much like ripping off a bandaid, quick and easy. Therefore, the pain isn't nearly as bad... Or at least that's what I'd thought at the time.
"That's me." I turned to my parents and gave them each a hug goodbye. "I'll call you as soon as I get there."
My mother pecked my cheek. "Please do... And be safe!"
Once we had finished with our goodbyes, my parents waved and left through the propelling doors... leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Just as I'd grabbed my carry-ons and began to make my way through the hallway portal, I heard someone shout my name in a frantic craze.
"ELISE! ELISE! DON'T GO YET!" Mads ran to my side, completely out of breath.
"Mads!? Wha- wait. What are you doing here?"
What the hell is going on?
He wrapped me in his arms and squeezed me tightly. "Elise, y-you can't leave. Not yet."
What?
"B-but Mads, I have-"
"I know." He struggled to regulate his harsh breathing. "I know you need to leave, but I can't let you go without knowing."
I looked up at him in a stirred confusion. "Knowing what?"
"Knowing if you want to spend the rest of your life with me." He exhaled bluntly.
Forever.
"Well of course I do, but I-"
He raised his right index finger to my lips and shushed me as his left hand fumbled within his pants pocket. "I realize that this all may seem a little crazy to you, but I can't live on knowing that I let the love of my life slip right through my fingers."
Wait a second...
"Mads, wh-what are you-"
"Elise..." He pulled a small, velvety black box out from his pocket as he got down on one knee and locked his gaze onto my teary eyes. "You are the most beautiful, caring, intelligent woman in the entirety of this universe and, to me, you couldn't be more perfect. There is no one else in the world who I'd rather protect, love, cherish, and share the rest of my life with. I love you beyond conceivable compare, min engel, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to prove that to you. I'm willing to follow you wherever you might you go because I cannot imagine a life that is absent of your love. I need you, Elise... now and forever."
Both hands covered my mouth in shock as the tears leaked through and my heart pounded in a beat beyond its capacity.
"Will you, Elise Melanie Desmond, do me the undeniable honor of spending the rest of your life with me?" He flicked opened the tiny box and revealed a slim, silvery diamond ring. "My angel, will you marry me?"
Oh my God!
My overjoyed mentality struggled to comprehend the surreality of the moment, but did not cease to answer as my heart, mind, and soul so desired. "Yes... Yes... A million times yes!"
He jumped with excitement and swept me off of my feet as he twirled me around in circles and kissed every inch of my face.
Never in my life had I felt more joy. Never in my life had I felt such completion.
I was now his.
"I love you." He stated again as he placed me back down and slowly slipped the ring onto my finger.
"I love you too." I smiled from ear-to-ear, awaiting the tender touch of his eager lips.
As he leaned in and masterfully kissed me, I was brought back to a very memorable place from a cold Spring night in Denmark. I was brought back to the beginnings of ours love... our happiness... our eternity.
I felt my lower back quiver with pleasure as he continued to taste me slowly... passionately... effortlessly.
He was a Danish Delight whose porcelain kiss travelled beyond my wildest dreams, and I savored the light accents of beer and tobacco on the tip of his tongue.
THE END.