Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
“Wow, this is so cosy here at night. I love the fairy lights.” Taylor ran her fingers through them, causing the soft glow to bounce around the cabin.
“It’s pretty magical.” Sam looked around, tapping her chin in thought. “Now, I’ve got some spare clothes around here somewhere you can sleep in.” She finally found them in the compartment under the mattress. “Aha!”
She threw a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt at Taylor. “Not the first time you’ve borrowed my clothes.” Sam winked.
“Ha. Ha. I do not need a reminder of that day. It feels like so long ago now.”
“Yeah, but just think—if you hadn’t been such a klutz, you wouldn’t be here right now, and we probably wouldn’t have met.”
“That is crazy to think about. Maybe I should be thanking that coffee instead?” Taylor said, eyebrow raised.
“Maybe.” Sam smiled and grabbed her own pyjamas out of her backpack.
Suddenly, the cabin felt much smaller at the thought of getting changed in front of Taylor. She definitely didn’t have the nerves for that yet. The butterflies in her stomach barely let her kiss Taylor tonight, let alone risk showing any more skin. Her body, on the other hand, was a traitor—clearly wanting much, much more.
She cleared her throat. “I’m just gonna quickly, uhh, get changed.” She held up her clothes.
“Right!” Taylor looked around, clearly seeing the same space problem Sam had. “I’ll turn around. Let me know when you’re changed.”
So considerate.
She stood there swooning, then realised Taylor was reaching to take her top off. Not wanting to be an absolute hypocrite, she spun on her heel, focusing her efforts on changing herself—and not thinking about Taylor half-naked on the other side of the room.
Sam reached over and flicked off the light. She’d never had anyone stay over on the boat with her. Sure, Alex had visited, and her dad had been around numerous times but she realised she’d really kept Manny all to herself. It was her project boat. This personal piece of her that, now that she thought about it, she hadn’t wanted to share with anyone.
Yet here she was, not even thinking twice about asking Taylor to stay over. Did this count as a first date now that they’d kissed? She couldn’t believe it had actually happened. Not that she’d had time to dissect it with Taylor lying right next to her.
Because, yep. She was in bed with a woman. That she liked. Like liked.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
“I see what you mean about the hatch,” Taylor spoke into the darkness, clawing Sam from her thoughts. “And you can still see so many stars, but from a much comfier position.” She snuggled further under the blankets as the light breeze whistled over the deck.
“It’s so much warmer in here than up on deck too. I also tell myself Mum gets to ‘look down on me’… which is stupid, I know.”
What was it about a dark room that made you just start blabbing things out loud you’d never told anyone? Sam internally groaned at herself.
“That’s not stupid at all. It’s a really nice thought, especially when you’re out here by yourself,” Taylor said seriously. “Having said that, I know it’s a calm night, but the gentle rocking of the boat is so soothing right now.”
“‘ Like rocking a baby to sleep,’ as Larry likes to say. We’ve had guys come in and declare they’d never sleep on land again after discovering the peacefulness of sleeping on water. Then you get those that want to sleep out in gale force winds, and that’s just crazy.”
“Yeah, no thanks—or at least not out here like this. I’m sure it’d be different back at the marina though?”
“They are much, much more protected, so yeah, you’d be fine in there. You’d still have the high winds and some choppy water, but you wouldn’t be worrying about thrashing waves and your anchor dragging or snapping, or worse, taking on water.”
“Way to make me feel relaxed right before bed.” Taylor laughed as Sam felt her pull the covers up a little closer.
“Yeah sorry. Probably not the best thing to be talking about before your first overnighter at sea. We’ll be fine,” Sam assured her.
“Okaaaay,” Taylor drew out the word, seemingly still unconvinced. They were both quiet for a beat. “Well, goodnight, Sam.”
“Goodnight, Tay.” She tried to leave it there, but couldn’t help herself and singsonged, “…and don’t let the bedbugs bite!”
“Oh seriously—well, maybe there IS a bug in here… right… now! ” A hand reached out, tickling Sam’s side.
Oh no.
She was so sensitive. This was not going to end well.
Sam screech-giggled as Taylor hit a particularly sensitive spot. She retaliated in a scramble of limbs, launching an attack of her own, desperately trying to distract Taylor away from herself. Taylor was faster. Stronger. Her arm grabbing Sam’s wrist and securing it behind her head before she’d even realised what was happening. Now on her back, she tried to get her other arm out, frantic laughter and fast breaths coming from both of them. She must’ve finally hit a sensitive spot, as Taylor jerked and barked out a laugh. It didn’t last long before Taylor grabbed that hand too, pinning both down with one hand to continue a one armed tickle assault.
Through the blur of chaos, her stomach burning from laughter, reality set in. Sam realised Taylor was now straddling her in a very, very compromising position. Her heart pounded in rhythm with the pulse between her legs. Any sensible thought died on her lips as she tried to make sense of what was even happening.
“Mercy!” Sam cried out, knowing any chance of winning at this point was futile. Their laughter died down, replaced with heavy breathing in the almost pitch-black room. The water outside still licking at the hull, gentle slaps hitting the sides of the boat from the small waves.
Taylor let go, sitting back on her legs—then stiffened.
Sam smirked, assuming Taylor had just realised how she’d ended up.
“Sorry,” Taylor muttered, moving to get off her.
“Wait.” Sam barely recognised her own voice, low and husky. Gone was the runaway girl from the deck. She was high on adrenaline, nerves and what ifs replaced with a confidence she didn’t know she had.
Taylor stilled.
Fuck it.
She sat up, stopping inches from Taylor’s face. She could feel the heat coming off Taylor, her breath on her face. All fresh toothpaste and, well, Taylor . She heard her swallow, and caught the glint of her eyes off of the stars above, staring at her. Unmoving. Waiting. This was her move. Sam was in control.
And it felt good .
Slowly, she came up to trace her fingertips across Taylor’s bottom lip. Taylor’s tongue darted out, chasing the movement. Still, she waited. Sam moved her fingers up along the edge of her jaw, tracing the shell of her ear and finally pushing her hand into that hair. God, she’d thought about doing that so many times.
She grabbed a fistful—still slow—pulling slightly, eliciting a groan from Taylor.
“You’re killing me,” Taylor muttered into the silence.
Sam bit down on a smile, trying to keep her breathing even as she concentrated on drawing this out as long as she possibly could. Running with this energy. If Taylor felt anywhere near as turned on as Sam felt right now, then it was mission accomplished.
She drew her hand back slowly, curling her fingers around Taylor’s neck before drawing them along her collarbone, playing at the edge of her shirt. Not taking her eyes off her, she edged forward, finally pressing her lips to Taylor’s, making them both moan.
Finally, Taylor set into action, her hands coming up to cup Sam’s face—gentle and firm all at once. She loved it. And boy, could she kiss. The kind that made her eyes roll back. The kind Sam read about in her guilty pleasure romance novels. It couldn’t be real. It felt that good .
Things ramped up as Taylor pushed at her shoulders until Sam fell back onto the bed. Taylor held herself above Sam, an arm either side of her face, her hazel eyes burning with pure want. Seeing Taylor over her as she waited, trying to restrain herself… it was so incredibly hot. Hotter than any time she’d been with a guy—and they’d barely even touched!
Taylor leaned down into the kiss, still holding herself up, away from Sam. The space between them was too much. Sam reached up and pulled Taylor on top of her. She landed with a grunt and a smile, not letting it interrupt their rhythm.
True to her word, Taylor kept things completely PG. While limbs entwined and their breathing grew heavy, Taylor’s hands remained on the outside of Sam’s clothes. It was enough… and nowhere near enough all at once. Sam was heady with everything that was Taylor. Her touch, her taste, her smell. She was completely enraptured.
After making out for what felt like hours, things naturally slowed down. They finally drifted off at some point, with Taylor wrapped around Sam in the best way. She could still feel the ghost of touches all over her, a brush against her clavicle, a tease of fingertips across her stomach. She smiled, snuggling into Taylor’s embrace even further. She listened as Taylor’s breathing evened out, her own eyes closing not long after.
She’d never had a better sleep in her life.
Their morning had been a rush for both of them to get back and ready for work. Sam had hoped for a slow wake up, with more cuddles and definitely more kissing. She would’ve settled for at least talking about last night. Instead, from the moment Taylor’s alarm had jolted them awake, it had been a sprint to get themselves into gear and sail back.
While they may not have talked yet, she had appreciated the view of Taylor sitting in the cockpit while she guided them through the gentle waters and into the marina. They’d shared a few sneaky glances and shy smiles on the way back, the sunrise bringing back Sam’s nerves in the new light of day.
Taylor had at least given her a chaste kiss before dashing off down the pontoon to get home to Belle, and hopefully get to her first job on time.
Now, it was already afternoon and Sam sat staring at the computer, no idea what was actually on the screen in front of her.
After last night, all she could think about was Taylor.
Taylor, Taylor, Taylor.
She couldn’t believe she’d kissed her. And it wasn’t a dream.
It was…
How do you describe a moment that turns your entire perspective on life upside down?
That kiss was everything .
She’d been happily living her life, content with most things. She thought she knew herself, knew what she liked. And now, everything had been turned on its head.
What did this mean now? For her? For Taylor? Question upon question unravelled itself, rolling through her mind like a song playing on repeat.
She knew there was something about Taylor that drew her in, but she hadn’t imagined herself actually taking that next step. The softest press. Too light and too overwhelming all at once. A jolt fired low in her belly at the memory.
She brought her fingers to her lips.
At least one thing could be certain—she wanted to kiss Taylor again. Needed to kiss her again. Maybe then she’d have the answers she so desperately sought.