Chapter 39 #2
He looks at me with a guilty expression. “Actually, I asked a friend to set it up for us, so it wasn’t sitting out here for an hour.”
“Oh. Smart.” I lean down and start to remove my shoes and socks. “I don’t want to get sand in my shoes.”
“Good point.” He takes off his shoes and socks as well. Once our feet are bare, he takes my hand in his and leads us down to the picnic spot. It’s still bright out, but we have about an hour before it’ll be too dark to see anything.
When we reach the blanket, he gestures for me to sit down. Unzipping the motorcycle jacket, I take it off and set it aside. I might want it as it cools off.
Sam sits next to me and reaches into the backpack. He hands me a glass bottle of root beer. I twist off the top and take a sip as he pulls out containers of food, two plates, napkins, forks, and a couple of light blankets.
He opens one container of what looks like pasta salad, scooping some out with a serving spoon, and places some on each of our plates. Next, Sam pulls another container with sandwiches. He hands me a plate, but stops midway. “Kat?”
“This is incredible.” My voice is thick. “You are incredible.” He sets the plate on the blanket in front of me, reaches for my hand, and brings it to his lips.
“I’m glad you like it.”
I’d always imagined going on a date with Sam. We often went to lunch and dinner together in college, but those times were nothing like this. This is romantic. A perfect setting. Something my mind could never imagine.
We quietly eat, the silence comfortable instead of awkward, and I laugh out loud at the memory of my not-date with Chris. How different these two men are and how different these experiences.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
“I was just thinking about my dinner with Chris.” I know I’ve said the wrong thing when Sam frowns, so I hurry to explain. “No, I mean. It was awful. I never told you because I was embarrassed. But it was so incredibly uncomfortable.”
The corners of his mouth lift into a wicked smile. “Awful, huh? What made it awful?”
I huff out a laugh. “Well, the biggest problem was that I realized I didn’t want to be on a date with him while we were driving to the restaurant.
I couldn’t remember if we had said it was a date or if it was just friends hanging out.
So, we were making small talk, and when we got there, it was just an uncomfortable silence. ”
I shake my head at the memory. His gaze remains fixed on me as he lowers himself on the blanket, propping onto one elbow.
“Sam, I couldn’t even look at him; it was so awkward.
Finally, he said something about it being weird, and he wasn’t even really sure why he asked me out.
We agreed that we would eat our pizza and he would take me home right after.
” I’m laughing now at the memory. “I was so relieved, and when we pulled up to the condo. He didn’t even walk me to the door.
Just basically said, ‘Well, it was good seeing you again. Bye.’”
I look up at Sam, and his eyes are equally amused and upset. “He didn’t even walk you to your door?” The words are seething. “What an asshole.”
“It wasn’t like that. I think we just both realized what a terrible mistake we made.” I reach out and run my hand through his hair. “Besides, if things went well, you and I might not be sitting here on this incredibly thoughtful date.”
He sits up, scoots closer to me and puts his arm around me. Pulling me into his side, Sam kisses my forehead. “He didn’t know what was right in front of him.”
We finish eating, watching the waves and the impending sunset. When the weather starts to cool, Sam gets up and wraps one of the blankets around my shoulders, setting the other blanket next to him.
He sits back down next to me, starts to put his arm around my shoulders, but I stop him before he can. He looks at me with narrowed eyes, but quickly smiles when he realizes I’m putting the blanket around him as well. “Thanks.”
We watch the ocean and the changing colors of the sky in silence as the sun sets behind us. Deciding I want to watch the sunset while lying down, I start to move the repacked backpack off to the side and lie on my back, looking up at the sky.
Sam grabs both blankets and lays them on top of me, leaving half for him. He lies next to me, and I have to look at his handsome face: his strong jaw, his unbelievably long eyelashes, and his mouthwatering smile.
Even though this is our first proper date, there is no doubt in my mind that I’m in love with him. He’s everything I’ve wanted for years, and I feel so lucky to be here with him.
He catches me staring at him and smiles again. “You’re missing the view, Kitty Kat.”
Why does that nickname always feel like he’s saying more?
“I’m enjoying the view just fine.” I smile back at him and shift to my side so I can look at him properly. He leans into me and places his lips on mine. I love his soft kisses, but this one is desperate—a promise of more.
I turn onto my back again to give him better access, and he lies half on me as he deepens the kiss, his hand running up my waist and stopping just under my breast. I want him.
“Sam, I want you,” I moan into his mouth.
He pulls back and runs his hand through his hair.
His eyes searching mine. “I want you, too, but I’m not going to take you here at the beach with all the sand and anyone who can walk by.
You need to decide if we pack up and leave now so I can get you home and have my way with you, or finish watching this sunset? ”
“Take me home,” I whisper into his ear before kissing his neck.
He shivers at the contact and jumps into action. We fold the blankets, and Sam shoves them unceremoniously into the backpack. I pick up our jackets as he carries the backpack. Grabbing my free hand in his, he leads me back to his motorcycle.
We put on our shoes when we get to the sidewalk, and Sam helps me with my helmet again before putting his own on. I put the backpack on and climb onto the bike behind him like we’ve done this hundreds of times.
The 20 minutes back to my place are agonizing. I’m getting braver on Sam’s motorcycle and even take one hand away from his waist and run my fingers down his leg. He shivers at the contact, and it takes everything in me not to run my fingers along his length, knowing I’ll find him hard for me.
The third time I run my fingers along his thigh, he grabs my hand and wraps it around his waist again, holding it in place for a moment. I know it's his way of telling me to cut it out, so I behave and keep my hands on his stomach.
We finally make it back to my place, helmets in hand.
Sam spends the night devouring me like I’m his personal dessert buffet.