Another episode of 'Sniffing Her Out'
The words seemed invested with special significance. Did he mean his home, or that it could be hers as well, one day? Atarangi spun around slowly, taking in all the luxurious furnishings, the big leather sofas, the wonderful works of art. The windows on the far wall stretched from floor to ceiling—a huge expanse of glass that framed the most beautiful view she'd ever seen. She slipped off her high sandals and swung them from a finger as she walked across to admire it. The foreground was filled with the private land they'd just driven through—lush and dark, with the moonlight painting the edges of the foliage with silver. And out beyond that lay the amazing lake. An expanse of black for the most part, but with a broad trail of sparkles reaching right across from the lights of Taupo township and the moon over Mount Tauhara.
“Is the house on stilts?” she asked. “This is incredible, being able to see right out over the treetops.”
He came to join her, resting his hands on the curves of her hips. “No—on a natural rise in the land. It falls away quite steeply just below us.” He nuzzled into her hair, taking big deep breaths.
