Nine
WADE
That same mix of anticipation and anxiety gripped me as I drove into Quinn’s driveway for the second evening in a row.
Our first date was amazing, everything I’d wanted—well, almost everything.
The whole night I’d been picturing her naked, those lush thighs wrapped around me.
Her dress hinted at the curves waiting for me underneath, and I wanted to slide the neckline lower and bury my face in her tits.
Teenage Wade had overtaken my brain. The same mix of awe, and lust, and love had prevented me from any rational thought.
Toss in that lingering insecurity, the one so powerful that I’d never been able to tell my best friend how I truly felt about her, and I froze on her front porch.
If my lips had touched hers, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to stop myself from mauling her in front of her parents’ house.
That couldn’t happen. I needed to respect her; I needed her to know that. So I balked and gave her a quick peck before bolting. In the car together for our second date, she’d done it again. She’d picked out a dress that hugged her curves in a way that I wish I could, and I was back at square one.
It took all the strength I had inside not to drive her straight back to the cabin at Valentine Cove that I’d indefinitely booked until I could buy a house in Hartwood Bay.
I parked on the street outside Stroke of Luck, the art supply shop that hosted sip and paint nights. It was situated directly across the main tourist beach, and the view from the upstairs studio would be breathtaking.
We walked up the stairs, and I watched as the flimsy fabric of Quinn’s dress danced with the movement, exposing her smooth legs with each step she took.
I tried to concentrate; I truly did. The art teacher was patient, but my eyes kept stealing glances at the beauty next to me. Quinn’s artwork was a faithful imitation of the sample at the front of the class, full of the vibrant colours of spring.
The night flew by and was pure torture. I was so close to gaining everything I ever wanted, and I had to fight my caveman instincts to just take it.
I was as enamoured by Quinn as always; her smile took my breath away, and I enjoyed watching her relax, her mind distracted by the project.
I took Quinn’s hand as we left the class.
We’d had fun, and yet the closer we got to the car, the look reappeared on her face.
“Let’s get you home before this car turns into a pumpkin,” I joked, trying to remove that serious line that had formed between her eyebrows.
Quinn just huffed and then released my hand, walking toward the beach beyond the car. I chased after her, rushing to make things right.
“What are we doing here, Wade?” Quinn asked me as soon as I caught up with her on the sand.
“We’re dating, getting to know each other…” Again, I had the feeling that I’d fucked something up, but I was clueless what it was.
“We know each other, Wade. We’ve been friends since the dawn of time!” She sighed.
“But we don’t know if we’d work as a couple…” I started to say.
“And you think we’d work that out by hanging out like we always have?” Quinn spat out the words in frustration.
“We’re not hanging out; we’re going on dates!” I defended.
“It means nothing if you’re not attracted to me! I’ve already been in one long-term relationship with someone who could barely look at me toward the end. I refuse to entertain the thought of committing to someone who just wants to hang out.”
It was like a smack in the face. How did she not know how much I needed her? Desired her? After all these years, how did she not know she was the sun I wanted my life to revolve around?
“What do you mean? Of course I’m attracted to you; you’re fucking gorgeous!”
“Then why won’t you touch me?” she pleaded. “And before you even say it, I mean more than just holding my hand. I need passion, Wade. I will not start another relationship with someone who doesn’t want me like I want him.”
“You think I’m not attracted to you?” I laughed. “Seriously, after all these years, you question that?”
“Well, that peck on the cheek last night proved nothing. I need a proper kiss. I need someone who can’t resist me. If you can’t offer that, I’d rather be single.”
“Would you prefer I did this?” I pulled her to me, flush against my body, my hand resting low on her back, just above the curve of her ass. She gasped as my face lowered to hers, my mouth millimetres from hers. I lingered long enough for her to object to my kiss before sealing our lips.
The kiss was hungry, fervent. It was a clash of teeth and tongues, but from that first contact, it felt like something was sliding into place. This was where I needed to be, with the person I needed to be with.
Quinn’s hands were on my back, her fingers sliding underneath my shirt, and the feel of her hands grazing my skin sent shivers up my spine.
She pulled me toward her, as if it were possible to be any closer than we already were.
I was hyper-aware of how the friction was affecting my growing cock, especially when I felt nimble fingers find their way between our bodies, along my abs and landing on my fly.
I reluctantly broke the kiss, resting my forehead on hers, holding her hand in mine to stop her before this went too far. “Is that what you wanted?”
“Yes,” Quinn hissed as she grabbed the back of my head to pull me in for another kiss, which I readily gave in to. This one was less hurried than the first, but just as heated. It had my hands gripping her hips and wandering around to grab her ass.
Quinn’s hand snaked its way around between our bodies again, stroking the outline of my cock. I pulled out of the kiss once more. “Quinn, let’s take this back to my cabin before I lose my mind and take you right here on this beach.”
“Mmmmm, why can’t we do both?” Quinn purred as she kissed my neck.
“Because I don’t want your boss's fiancé to arrest me before I get a chance to truly worship your body.”
“When you put it that way, let’s go.” Quinn pulled me back toward the car, and I took a deep breath, hoping I could get some oxygen back into my brain before I had to drive.