The walls of the gently curving building looked as if they were made out of translucent glass. The warm orange of the setting sun, which was now behind them, illuminated the shining exterior. Rather than reflecting off the building as she’d expected, the light seemed to be trapped within its walls, giving Jade the impression that she was staring at a giant luminescent animal.
Beautiful flowering plants, whose petals were unnaturally larger than the leaves, grew all along the base of the glowing building, seeming to bathe in the sunlight.
Feeling Theo’s eyes on her, she peered up at him and saw he was studying her reactions. Did he want her to like his home? Gesturing toward the house, she said, “Beautiful.”
His shoulders relaxed and he started walking away from her toward an enormous wooden door tucked between two rows of crawling, flowering vines. Theo’s hand paused a moment on the large handle, and she heard a heavy bolt sliding out of place.
Panic crept through the awe she felt after admiring the building. The door could only be unlocked by him? Does that mean she’d be trapped inside?
Theo glanced over his shoulder at her and lifted his open palm. Jade looked pointedly from his palm then back to his eyes and gave an exaggerated shrug. “I don’t know what you want.”
His jaw clenched. Slowly he reached toward her and let his hand hover above her own. He held her gaze and waited.
She chuckled, still feeling a little buzzed. “Well, since you asked so nicely.”
She lifted her hand and placed it in his. Warmth spread through her at the small contact.
Gently he circled her wrist with his large palm and tugged her forward until she stood in front of him facing the heavy wooden door. With one large hand still holding her wrist, he brought his other arm around the side of her face to touch something on the center of the door. She eyed his large bicep appreciatively.
He was so close to her back that she could feel his heat radiating off him and enveloping her in warmth. Her breathing hitched when she felt his breath brush against her hair.
Snap out of it Jade! she chided herself. He’s just standing behind you. No reason to get worked up.
She turned her head to peer at him, craning her neck since he towered over her. He glanced down at her briefly then guided her hand to lie flat against the center of the door.
A light pressure against her palm startled her, causing her to jump back against his hard chest.
Theo groaned softly behind her and then pressed her hand more firmly to the door.
She felt the soft pressure run over her palm once more and fought the urge to pull her hand back.
A small ding chimed from somewhere near the handle of the door, and Theo guided her hand to wrap around the curving metal of the handle. A second ding sounded just before she heard the noise of a heavy bolt moving into place.
Theo released her hand and stepped away from her.
A light breeze chilled her now-exposed back, and she felt sorry for the loss of the warmth he provided.
He motioned for her to touch the door handle once again. When she did, the handle recognized her touch and unlocked.
Relief washed over her. He gave me access to the door!
When Jade just held the handle and beamed at Theo, he seemed to grow uncomfortable, glancing all around her until finally he reached past her and pushed the heavy door inward.
“Oh, right. Sorry,” Jade said sheepishly, feeling like an idiot for not attempting to open the door.
As Theo ushered her into the dimly lit interior, she studied the thickness of the door, and a sense of foreboding crept over her. She may have been able to unlock it, but she doubted whether she’d be able to move it.
Initially, she thought the door had been crafted from what she’d assumed was wood. Looking at a cross section of it, however, she could see that the wood-like material was just a veneer. The middle of the door was dark gray metal. Rather than one bolt near the handle, many latches and bolts ran the length of the door and frame. Once locked, it would be impenetrable.
It unlocks for me. It unlocks for me, she chanted, trying to remind herself she wouldn’t be locked inside.
As they moved further into the house, soft lighting began to illuminate the interior. Jade’s steps faltered when the room before her came into view. The inside of his home was as glorious as the outside had been.
The large open room in front of her contained a sunken living room with a large roaring fireplace, an open kitchen and a small dining area. What was most breathtaking, however, was the fact that the walls and ceiling formed a large glass dome, providing sweeping views of the scenery and sky. The front exterior of the building must’ve been the only side you couldn’t see through.
The house overlooked a crescent-shaped beach comprised of glittering black sand. The rising moons hung gently over the sparkling water.
Glowing glass bubbles of various sizes floated softly around the inside of the home, providing warm lighting. Some congregated around large potted plants, and Jade wondered whether the lights were able to drift wherever they were needed. Glancing above her, she found that a few glass bubbles were, in fact, hovering a few feet above them, providing light.
Theo urged her forward with a soft hand on her back. Jade craned her neck to take in as much as she could while allowing herself to be guided through the many rooms of the house.
As he led her through one exceptional room after another, she had to admit that Theo had good taste. They’d been walking through his home for a while now, and she had yet to see something she didn’t like. Theo pointed to a door at the end of the hall and gestured to
