Chapter 3
I’ve never been the spontaneous girl. The girl that lets the wind fly through her hair and leaves all her worries behind. But tonight, in this moment, I feel free for the first time in my life. My arms hold tightly to Donovan’s neck and my legs wrap around his waist as we run wildly through the vineyard.
Our loud laughter fills the air, and I cling to his back, praying I don’t fall off. My dress is flying up in the wind, feeling a little more exposed than I’m usually comfortable with, but with Donovan, I don’t care.
I lean my head forward and nuzzle my face into the crook of his shoulder. I take a deep inhale, trying to memorize his scent. His sweat smells sweet, mixed with teak and firewood—probably from earlier.
I wish I could bottle up this smell and keep it forever.
“Donovan! Where are you taking me?!”
I shriek with delight as he picks up speed. My god, this boy is fit.
“Almost there. Hold on tight!”
Playfulness stretches across his face, the summer breeze rippling through his thick, brown locks. I hear the steady thump of his feet hitting the ground beneath us, mirroring my heart. His unfettered presence makes me feel awake for the first time in years, filling the deep cracks in my soul with his laughter alone.
His pace is slowing, bringing me back down to earth. If I weren’t holding on so tight, I’d float up to the stars and take Donovan with me. I look past his shoulder and see a white gazebo ahead, adorned with the beam of the moon. A faint echo of music from the party lingers in the air. I realize it’s just us two. Alone.
“We’re here. You like it?” he asks as he gently puts me down and takes my hand, barely needing to catch his breath.
It’s a simple wooden gazebo nestled within the vineyard. Some of the wood is weathered, and looking closely, I spy white strokes of paint from what looks like a stiff-bristled brush. But despite this simplicity, it’s magical. Like a buoy in the middle of a vast sea of rolling grapevines. If planks of wood could talk, I’d want to know their story.
“It’s breathtaking,” I whisper softly.
I take my time moving up the steps, memorizing every divot and ridge along the rails as I drag my fingers across. I sense Donovan’s eyes on me as he stands at the bottom of the steps, watching my every move. I feel an etch beneath my touch and tilt my head to read an inscription carved into the railing.
“Meet Me in the Vines.” My voice is just above a whisper.
My eyes stay on the inscription as I hear Donovan slowly walk up the steps, caging me in from behind, resting his hand on top of mine.
“The story goes that my great grandmother would sneak out late at night to meet my great grandfather here.” His gravelly voice vibrates against my ear, spiking gooseflesh down my neck. “He proposed to her in this very spot.”
His fingers trace up and down my arms, his lips gently graze the side of my neck. I lean back against him, letting myself melt into his touch.
“He sounds like a romantic,” I croon, turning my head slightly and catch his profile. The perfect slant of his nose, the fullness of his bottom lip, the thick dark lashes that enhance the navy blue in his eyes. He wraps his arms tighter around me, smiling against my neck. He gently presses a kiss into my pulse, trailing down to my shoulder.
Could this be the rest of my summer? Sneaking away late at night, being held in the arms of a boy who unlocks every part of my heart? Would it be holding hands down Main? Stealing kisses in a gazebo?
I close my eyes, letting the doubt that forms in my stomach dissipate with his touch. I thought what I wanted was to leave, start a new life. So why is it that now, in this moment, I’m content to put that on hold? The Donovan King effect should really be studied by scientists.
Donovan turns me to face him, hands wrapping around my waist. His thumbs stroke the small of my back. He leans forward and presses his forehead to mine, our breaths matching one another. I snake my arms around his nape, eager to feel the electricity of his skin beneath my fingers, and draw our noses together to touch.
“I think I want to kiss you,” he whispers. His eyes flit back and forth from my eyes to my lips.
Can he hear how loud my heart is beating? The thump in my ears is heavy. I hold my breath, anticipating our lips to touch.
“I think I want you to,” I breathe out.
The corners of his lips tug up slightly as his lips finally meet mine. I melt into his kiss, like putty in his arms, letting out a soft whimper when he pulls me in against his hips. It’s hot sparks and fire, and I let my mouth open slightly to invite his tongue. We explore each other, tasting the desire, learning each other. My hands tangle in his hair as our kiss intensifies, and in one swift movement, he lifts me off the ground.
My legs wrap around him, and he leads us onto a built-in bench. I settle on his lap, straddling him as the arousal in my core builds. This kiss is filled with years of wondering, full of what ifs. We grasp each other with need, like this kiss is the only thing keeping us alive. The temperature around us spikes, feeling more like the heat of a sweltering desert summer than a cool, brisk night.
I take notice of the throbbing ache between my legs, the euphoric sensations pricking along my skin with every touch from Donovan. He swallows each moan that escapes my throat, our desire tipping us closer and closer to the edge of losing my innocence.
Our lips part, giving us a moment to catch our breath. His eyes study my face, drinking in every detail. Heat floods my cheeks as his look intensifies, suddenly making me feel vulnerable. He reaches out and traces the freckles over my nose with his index, then down my cheek. His thumb rubs over my bottom lip, swollen with our kiss.
He leans in and smiles against my lips, peppering them with tiny kisses that lead down to the column of my throat. I tilt my head back and let out a moan that comes from the deepest desires of my body, melting away the vulnerability I felt just a moment ago.
“I could kiss you all night if you’d let me,” he whispers. His voice is low and full of rasp, heat pooling between my legs at the sound.
“I’ll let you,” I reply. My words are breathless. The effect he has on me makes my vision blur and my brain go foggy. I’m dancing in a wild storm named Donovan, and I don’t care that I’m in the middle of it.
“But first…” I bite my bottom lip, stifling a smirk that’s creeping on the corner of my mouth.
I slide off of his lap and take one step back, still close enough where he can reach out and touch me.
“But first what?” he asks, one brow cocking up. His expression is full of intrigue. He leans back against the bench and crosses his arms over his hard chest. His eyes hang heavy from our intoxicating kiss as he runs a hand through the hair I tousled with hungry desperation. He looks good enough to eat.
“First, we play a game,” I tease, flashing him a mischievous grin. A sudden bravery wraps around me like armor as I bend down and take off my heels, throwing them to the side. His hands rest behind his head, and that grin I can’t resist forms on his lips.
“A game? Okay. I love games. For the record, I win at everything,” he says the last part lazily, his legs spread wide apart in a confident stance. Even just the way he sits makes me want to jump on his lap and let him do unspeakable things to me.
I like this cocky side of him.
“Okay, Mr. MVP,” I laugh. “But you’ve never played against me.”
I lean forward, putting my hands on his thighs, dangerously close to his length. He looks down and groans.
“I think I like this game already,” he growls, a smirk forms on his lips.
He runs his hands up the outside of my legs, trailing to my thighs. I push off him, and he scrubs a hand over his face in frustration. I like seeing him all worked up.
I could get used to this.
“The game is cat and mouse.”
“Like tag?” he asks, curious where this is going.
“Yeah, exactly like tag. You’re cat and I’m mouse. I get a ten-second head start, and the gazebo is home base. Close your eyes while you count, though.”
He flashes me a smile and stands to his feet.
“Okay, fair enough. So, I get to kiss you all night if I win?”
He walks towards me, and instead of stepping back, I wrap my arms around his middle. I look up at his towering frame and lean in, my lips barely touching his.
“If you win,” I whisper, pressing my lips into the corner of his mouth.
I gently push him back, daring him to take a dive with me into the unknown. Tonight, we play. Tonight, we explore the possibility of an unforgettable summer together. I’m willing to take the leap if he is.
“Are you ready?” I ask, adrenaline spiking through my veins.
“I was born ready, baby,” a low growl rumbling from the depth of his chest.
He slips off his shoes and socks, leaving him barefoot on the planks. He gives me a wink, puts his hands over his eyes, and starts at ten.
Ten…nine…
My bare feet thud on the soft grass beneath me, inhaling fresh soil and crisp summer air as I leave my laugh trailing behind my steps.
Eight…seven…
Donovan’s voice fades the further I run, already wishing I could turn back to be near him.
Six…five…
I lick my lips. His taste lingers like my favorite dessert, sweet and delicious. I instantly want his mouth back on mine to satisfy my craving.
Four…three…
Maybe I’d let him catch me.
Two…one…
Maybe not.
“You can’t hide from me forever!” Donovan’s voice cuts through the night. I see him walking a couple of rows away from me as I tiptoe in the same direction he moves.
“Yes I can,” I say in a sing-songy voice, his head whipping toward me, catching a peek of me through the vines.
The moon is high in the sky, its beams reflecting off the top of his chocolate hair. We mirror each other in step, our eyes lock through the stems. My upper lip curls under my teeth, trying to hold back the smile that’s taking over my face. I see a sheen of thin sweat over his brow and just below his collarbone, feeding a hungry desire in me to end the game now and reach out to touch him. I didn’t think sweat could turn me on.
His eyes rake me up and down as we stare at each other through an opening in the vines. He scrubs his hand over his jaw and clenches.
“You in that dress…” he moans, shooting an arousal through my heat.
“You like this dress?” I tease, pulling the hem of my dress up to flash him a peek of my white lace panties.
His mouth gapes open and a low growl rumbles in his throat. His tongue swipes at his bottom lip as he takes a step toward me.
I take a step back, keeping the hem of my dress up. My eyes lock onto his. The navy hue turns black with desire, hungry like a wolf who hasn’t had a meal in days. He’s on the verge of feral behavior, and I’m savoring every moment.
He takes another step, like he is waiting for my next move. I take another step back, this time slipping the strap from my dress down my shoulder.
Just as he gets close enough to touch me, I take off running and leave him in my dust. I halt a couple rows over, expecting to find him on my heels, but he hasn’t moved. He stands with his hands on his hips, flashing that beautiful grin.
“Don’t you want me to kiss you all night, Mouse?” he yells out.
I bite my lip to keep me from laughing. Mouse. I like that.
Hell yes, I want you to kiss me all night.
“Come and get me!” I yell back, and he darts in my direction. I shriek and make a run for the gazebo. A hearty laugh bubbles from my chest as I hear his footsteps gaining. The gazebo steps are just ten strides away. My breathing is erratic, laced with uncontrollable giggles.
Just as I’m about to reach the steps, I stop in my tracks.
Donovan’s momentum carries him forward as he lunges toward me, hooking his strong arms around my waist. His face buries into the crook of my neck, his hard chest pressed against my back.
I turn to face him, and he lifts me up, cupping his hands beneath my thighs. We both breathe hard in unison, smiling at each other. He licks his lips—my eyes follow.
“I win,” he says in a husky tone.
My eyes stay on his lips, my hands wrap around his neck.
“You win.”
I could’ve stepped on the gazebo steps and ended our night right then and there. Thanks for a great kiss. Goodnight. But we both know that this night isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning.
“So, do I get my prize now?” he teases, knowing full well he gets to kiss me as much as he wants. But I don’t want just the kiss. I want more.
“Take me into the gazebo,” I say with full confidence, knowing exactly what I want for once.
He crashes his lips into mine, our tongues grappling. Is it too soon to crave the way he tastes? I want it every second of every day.
He carries me up the steps with his mouth sealed on mine, his hands gripping my bare skin with the force of a hurricane. Wild and untamed.
I break the kiss and find his hooded gaze, happy to drown in his ocean blues. He slowly lowers me, every curve of my body pressing hard against him. My bare feet find the wooden planks beneath me, my hips glued to his.
I feel his steely length press against me, sending desire tingling through my entire body.
“Donovan…I want you.”
I breathe out, clinging onto him like my life depends on it. My hands slip under his shirt and trail up his back, lightly scratching the length of his spine. The heat radiating off of his skin lights a burning fire inside me—I need to explore every inch of him. I feel his skin prick up in goosebumps, and he lets out a deep moan.
“Are you sure, Audrey? I want you to know that I didn’t bring you all the way out here for that.”
He brings his hands up to frame my jaw, face full of concern, as he shifts the loose strands of my hair aside.
His eyes search mine for hesitation, but he won’t find it. I want this to happen. I need this to happen.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything. I want you to be my first. Please,” I beg, desperate for him to touch me. I kiss him hard with need.
His hands grasp the hem of my dress, gathering the ivory fabric by the fistful. I lift my arms and close my eyes, letting the dress come up over me, bearing everything to him.
His eyes widen slightly, surprised to find my bare breasts under my dress. Here I am, in my most vulnerable state, standing in nothing but my panties. My body pulses with heat as he reaches back behind him to pull his shirt off over his head.
Holy shit, he’s gorgeous.
The center of his night.
“Youare the most stunning girl I have ever laid eyes on,” he says breathlessly.
His hands explore my body, tracing the curve of my breast, trailing up my ribcage and down over my shoulder. It sends a shiver down my spine, turning me to jello.
He grips the soft flesh on my hips and pulls me close, his fingers toying with the band of my panties. My hands sweep over his chest, down to his washboard abs. His skin is hot to the touch, lighting my fingertips with every trace.
He bends down to kiss my shoulder and snakes his tongue up to my neck. I lull my head to the side and hum in pleasure, letting him take his time kissing and licking my skin.
My hands grip the button of his jeans, pausing as I reach for his zipper.
“Do you have protection?”
He nods and reaches into his back pocket, pulling out a condom. I give him a teasing smile. “Didn’t think this would happen tonight, huh?”
He smiles and kisses me deeply, his tongue moving languid against mine. Our mouths cling together as I pull down his zipper and let his jeans drop, pooling at his ankles. He breaks the kiss, kicking them away, and I trace the outline of his bulge against his briefs with my eyes.
We stand nearly naked—breathing, shaking, nervous as hell. He grabs my hands, pulling me close. Our foreheads press against each other, eyes closed, and fingers linked.
I’d always imagined what it might be like to lose my virginity one day, but I never thought it would feel like this. It feels safe. And I’m ready.
“Audrey, I just want you to know that I’ve never done this before. This is my first time, so I’m sorry if I’m not very good…or…if I don’t last very long…” He holds my hands and presses my knuckles to his lips, shaking.
His first time, too?
I’m surprisedat how nervous he is. Donovan King is never nervous, but here he is in front of me—trembling.
I open my hand to his cheek, and he kisses the inside of my palm.
“It’s okay, I’m nervous too. I trust you,” I whisper.
I give him a reassuring smile, tracing my thumb along the length of his jaw.
“I trust you too,” he replies, leaning down to plant kisses along my collarbone and on my chest.
With my hands in his, he gently lowers us onto the floor, laying me down beneath him. His hand grazes over my mound, radiating my heat and arousal in the palm of his hand. I shudder at his touch, tilting my hips up toward him to take off my panties.
He hooks his thumbs in the bands and slowly slides them down my thighs, his eyes drinking in every inch of me. He licks his lips, and I’m about ready to combust.
I prop myself up on my elbows, pointing with my eyes at his briefs.
“Oh, shit,” he mutters under his breath. A small giggle escapes my throat as he frantically pulls down his briefs. My eyes stretch open at his size. Was he sculpted by Zeus himself? Wow.
He grabs the condom and rips off the foil, his hands trembling as he tries to coax it out of its package.
“Fuck,” he stammers, his fingers fumbling with the opening of the latex. I notice his growing frustration, so I lean forward and wrap my hands around his, stilling his movement. He looks at me and lets out a deep breath.
“Donovan, it’s okay. Let me do it.”
I smile softly and take the condom. My free hand presses against his arousal. His eyes close and he quivers against my touch. My hands should shake, but they stay steady, keeping calm under the pressure. A small smile tugs at my lips, seeing Donovan nervous.
I make him nervous.
I slide the rubber down his length and thank Ms. Harrison in my head for the health class demonstration junior year that day with the bananas.
I lay back as he settles between me, adjusting himself.
Now I’m nervous.
This is it. He kisses me gently, and I feel him at my entrance. My arms wrap around his nape, pulling his face close to me. Our chests touch, our heartbeats thud in unison.
“Are you ready?” he asks, voice shaking, and I nod my head quickly, biting my bottom lip so hard it leaves a stinging indention.
And just like that, I give Donovan my whole self. Every part of me belongs to him.
This night will always belong to us.