Love had never been one of those things on her list of what it was that she had wanted out of this life she was bound and determined to make all her own, never to be guided and manipulated by the hands of anyone other than herself. As a little girl, there had only ever been that fleeting moment where she'd wanted to think of finding Mr. Right, the man that so many often referred to as their Prince Charming, but it had all be so short-lived for Adelaide when she came to realize that she loved the idea of freedom, of hidden wonders just waiting to be found by ever-sesrching eyes so much more than a tame existence of waking up and doing the same things, seeing through same sights like a movie stuck on repeat. The dark-haired woman could not make the argument that there was surely a comfort to be found in such a world where so little changed from day to day. There was likely a security on knowing where the day would lead, never having to worry about what might be hiding around that figurative bend in the road. Would there be something wonderful and warm, or would there be devastation and despair hidden in those unknown shadows, in that near or far future that one's eyes could not quite see? She could understand how it would be easy to find that certain something that made one feel safe and happy and suddenly they would refuse to ever go any farther to see if there was more beyond that little sanctuary that the heart and soul would likely want to create. In fact, it was all too easy for the French woman to believe that falling into such a state of settled contentment and fear of the unknown was a rut that far too many were happy to just sit in. They would grow happy, content in that one place and never dreamed of trying to find what other marvels could be waiting just beyond that metaphorical horizon. Some might say that it was almost greedy, finding something wonderful only to venture beyond it to see what else was out there just waiting room be found. Was it truly greedy or selfish though? Was it so wrong to brave those uncharted plains just to see what else the world had to offer, to strive for the moon after having reached out and touched a star? The young woman was like most in the sense that she would like to think that she could find a place where she would be safe, where there was little to worry about or fret over, but unlike those souls ready to settle for good or good enough, Adelaide knew that she would always feel that calling to her heart, that fierce curiosity and desire to see more, feel more. She was prepared to take those calculated risks, expecting that such a life would only test her resilience and the endurance of her wild heart. Part of life was learning one's limitations, knowing that there would likely be failures and wounds to be inflicted at some point, but to be afraid of stumbling once or twice and deciding to stay where one was certain they would not have to know what it felt like to struggle through another new day just seemed like a life unfulfilled and hollow.

Beyond all that, she'd hardly ever thought that after having fallen for someone only to find out in the end that they hadn't been there to catch her - never was and never had been, those motives of Julien's having been so far from being true - as she felt everything she'd dared to give him crash around her like broken glass that she would ever learn to trust another in such a deep and devoted way again. Adelaide had hardly anticipated that she would ever find herself feeling for someone else what she'd once been a certain she'd felt with that man who'd only further driven into her the belief that the fabled true love was made of nothing more that childrens' fairytales after taking and breaking her heart, and more devastatingly, her already fragile and carefully guarded trust. The woman never thought that she would ever find herself reconsidering the idea of finding that love meant to last, that love that came in unexpectedly when she'd been confident that she'd effectively been able to lock that wounded part of her away from the entire world so that she wouldn't have to hurt like that again. Then, along came Taylor and suddenly it seemed like everything was starting to change as he ignited that flame that had since been reduced to no more than glowing coals with so little hope of burning brightly in her soul once more. How someone she'd never known, never seen could have simply appeared in her world in what felt like only moments ago and earned the trust she didn't dare to give to anyone since that final betrayal she'd stumbled into was not something that the French woman fully understood, and it certainly wasn't something that she would have ever believed to be possible. But perhaps that was the best part about it, this sudden and unexpected fall that Adelaide was taking and this time, she couldn't help but feel that Taylor would be there to catch her in those arms of his that wrapped around her now. She found herself almost desperately hoping that she truly wasn't just imagining all this, that this was not some mistake that she would end up regretting. It would be a lie to say that there was not the faintest traces of fear in the dark-haired woman buried somewhere beneath the warmth that enveloped her despite the chill in the night air, that there wasn't that small voice in the back of her mind trying to whisper into her ear that this was only some wild infatuation that would only burn out as quickly as it had been awakened. And then, as she presses her head gently into his chest, the sound of his heart beating almost in time with her own chases away that last lingering fear as though it were telling her without words that everything was going to be okay, and that was enough for Adelaide to allow herself to fully melt into this embrace as she tightens her hold of him only just slightly, hardly ready to let her arm fall away from him even when she knew they very well couldn't stay like this for as long as she wanted. The sun would rise soon enough, and in that moment she wonders if he would look back on tonight with a fondness that she was so very certain she would.

As that star falls from the heavens, she can't help but turn those soft sage eyes to his handsome face and she can see a wistful smile flickering across his lips as those hunter green eyes watch that same night sky. What was he thinking of? What would it be that he might have wished for as she cast her own quiet plea to that shooting star as it fell somewhere out of sight? She knew what it was that he wanted, knew that he had dreams of his own. But of those wants that filled every beat of his heart, which one might she be? After all, there was a difference between understanding what it was he yearned for in this world - even that she wasn't quite sure exactly what that was - and knowing each and every intimate detail of that path that he would take to get to where it was he wanted to be. Yet, when all was said and done, did it really matter where it was that she stood with Taylor or where it was that she ranked in his world? No, it didn't. She would never expect for him to place her above all else, simply content to know that at least the feelings which echoed within her own heart were, for once, returned in the same genuine and warm intensity. It was clear in the words that they'd whispered to one another, in those passionate kisses that they shared with the other beneath those innumerable stars that they cared for each other, that there was so much more to those feelings that had sparked to life between them so suddenly, but only time would tell just what awaited for them in the future. With most all things, she was almost certain that the world would test them as it would try and drive mountains and rivers between them. Such was the natural way of life it seemed, but there wasn't anything that she wouldn't do to conquer every trial that came before them so that she could be there beside him as she'd promised, and there was something in the way those hunter green depths searched hers of glittering sage that assured Adelaide he was willing to go the distance with her as well. She trusted him with her heart, with those darker thoughts and emotions that she'd kept to herself for so long only to just now begin realizing that she'd been waiting for someone who might listen to them, understand them to a depth that she was once so sure no one ever could. Taylor was everything that she had told herself could never be real. He was everything that she hadn't thought she would ever want, let alone need. All this time, Adelaide had believed that there was nothing sweeter than the taste of freedom, nothing more worth the blood and tears but as she remains there in his arms, she is quickly realizing that she wanted so much to share it with him, that being with the one soul that seemed to click into place perfectly like a missing piece she hadn't even known she was lacking didn't mean she couldn't live the life she had always dreamed of. And just maybe, it might turn out to be something so much more rare and beautiful than even her dreams had promised her.

When he smirks down to her, that boldness in her only grows as she bats those thick lashes up to him innocently despite the suggestiveness in her lilted words. That smirk turns into that familiar sheepish smile as he lifts a hand away from her to run his fingers through brunette hair as if those softly purred syllables has brought on thoughts of his own that he didn't dare speak on. She lifts a single brow then as if to once again ask silently "what are you thinking?" though when she teases the hem of his jeans with a sultry smile dancing upon her lips, those keen sage eyes glow with an almost wicked delight as his jaw seems to grow tense as if he might just be fighting against temptation. She could have spared him then and there, but she only grows bolder as she moves to play with that button now and she wonders if perhaps she simply imagined seeing a small flame of desire flickering in his hunter green gaze as his hands clasp around hers to bring them up to his face as he brushes them with a kiss. He lifts a brow of his own now as that smirk etches itself into his features as tenor tones reach for her then, only encouraging that impish and teasing playfulness that dances across her own face further."Is that so? Well, in due time... you might not even need to ask", she purrs softly to him, every accented syllable dripping in that same sultry expression that burns in those mischievous sage depths before she lifts herself up to press those lips against his own that eagerly return that kiss. As much as she wanted to linger there, she moves away from him, the woman is entirely aware of his flowing gaze. When she peeks around that tree with mischief illuminating her sage eyes, he chuckles before tenor tones offer her a reply that brings another note of lilted laughter to fall from her lips."Not much gets by you does it, my dear?", she says playfully before he gives chase and laughter bubbles over her lips as she evades him with a dancer's grace. Several more attempts are made by the man she had never felt so at ease with to indulge in such antics and yet she hadn't felt as alive and carefree as she does now, just barely staying out of his reach. Finally, Taylor seems to catch on and she feels his arms wrap around her waist. Her laughter only grows brighter when she turns to face him and he picks her up then, throwing her arms around his neck as long dark chocolate hair swirls around them when he spins her around. Their laughter intertwine in the night as he sets her gently onto the ground once more, his lips pressing lightly into her neck in a kiss that quickens her heartbeat. He is the one that moves away now and Adelaide pursues, sage eyes as full of joy and light as they weave through the trees and back towards where the Harley was parked. It is halfway to the chain link fence and motorcycle that she catches Taylor, his attempt to dodge her around an oak foiled when she flings her arms around him, fingers locking with each other as they rest over his muscled abdomen in a hug as she presses gently into his back, her laughter still ringing softly into the cold winter air. Her chest rises and falls with the efforts of their game and finally she is happy to simply be walking back along that trail beside him. She runs a soft hands along his bicep and down to his forearm slowly, enjoying the feel of the sinewy muscle there until finally her hand falls down to his and she laces her slender fingers with his own. They walk together, the dark shadow of the Harley coming into view almost regrettably, and she leans into his arm, her head resting against his shoulder as a blissful sigh ushers softly from her."Thank you for tonight, Taylor... For everything. I can't wait to see where you'll take me next time", she breathes gently as she looks up to his hunter green gaze once more, happy to get lost in those warm depths as they walked side by side and hand in hand.