Chapter 25
Lou: Their hearts are out there swinging wildly, like clubs in a hurricane.
Chuck: Unpredictable and just a touch dangerous to watch.
Lou: But that’s what keeps it interesting, isn’t it?
Chuck: Absolutely. A little risk makes the reward sweeter.
My eyes land on a focused Paloma. She’s people-watching which gives me the perfect opportunity to watch her.
No matter where we are, my gaze drifts to her.
The cool breeze ruffles the end of her chin-length curls, her skin chills with goose bumps sweeping across her chest, and a shiver works up her spine as the light wind continues.
“Not enjoying the movie?” I ask as she turns in my direction, catching me admiring her. God, I want to kiss her. My mouth splits as I swipe the tip of my tongue over my bottom lip, trying to remember what she tasted like when she kissed me at Midnight Miso.
“What makes you ask?” Her curiosity outweighs answering the question. It warms me somehow.
“You’ve been looking everywhere else but the screen.”
“I like it, but I don't know. I enjoy the look of everyone so rapt in the movie. Gives me a chance to people watch.” She responds, wiggling her eyebrows in turn. Another chill from the temperature dropping makes her shoulder shake involuntarily. Pulling the blanket from my lap, I wrap it around her shoulders. Her response, only a look of comforted surprise, and that’s all I need.
“Can I ask you a question?” I’m not sure if it will scare her away or not, but I have to know.
“Of course. This is a date after all.” She chuckles.
“Why did you ask me on a date?” I know it's a simple question, but the look in her eyes tells me otherwise, tells me there’s something deep within those bottomless-brown pools of hers. She may not be running anymore, but hiding seems to be an option.
“I wanted to try,” she begins, turning so she’s facing me. “I don’t know if I’ve ever really known what forever looks like, Clint. But with you, I want to try—if you’ll give me another chance.”
“Dove, all I want to do is try with you. It’s all I can do because I—” I stop myself, for once, very unsure if what I say might scare her away. So instead, I settle for, “You are all I want.”
I couldn’t look away from her earlier and definitely not now, not like I even want to. Paloma’s eyes burn with something I can’t place—fear, hope, maybe both.
“Can I kiss you?” she asks, her voice light as the breeze. “I just—well, after ramen, I didn’t want to assume.”
“Yeah, Dove. You can kiss me.”
“Thank God,” she whispers softly, dropping the blanket from her shoulders.
Her head tilts back, and her lips fall open slightly as she takes in a shuddering breath, like she’s been aching for this as much as I have.
My heart is hammering as she turns fully to me and slants her lips over mine.
The kiss is gentle and searching until she releases a soft moan, and I can no longer hold myself back.
Sliding one hand to the nape of her neck and the other to her waist, I haul her into my lap.
Our kiss deepens into longing, losing the gentleness that was just shared.
How could it remain gentle with our past?
Not after all these years. Not after this fucking visceral need I have for her.
Not after everything. Her gasps ignite something deep within my chest, and when she knots her fingers into my shirt I lose all clarity on our surroundings.
Hungrily, I suck her bottom lip into my mouth, not giving a single fuck if I mess up her pretty red lips. I hope they smear across her face so I can see how well I devoured her for the rest of the night.
Nothing exists outside of us—her. There is only her for me. Her mouth is soft and warm, and goddamned sweet, just like she is. She sets my fucking soul on fire.
Tilting her head back, I kiss her deeper, pouring everything I can’t say into this one kiss.
Every single year I waited, every moment I held myself back.
Her hand rakes through my curls as she presses her lush body into me, fully straddling my lap.
Thank fuck for the hills and this small secluded corner we’re in.
Breaking the kiss, not because I want to but to make sure this is real, I rest my forehead to hers as we both catch our breath. My voice is low and rough. “You don’t get to run away from me again, Paloma. Not after tonight.”
She exhales a soft, sultry breath and leans into me, pressing her lips to mine once more as a smile dances across her face. “I won’t.” Her words are soft but sure, and maybe I’m a fool, but I believe her.
Still sitting in my lap, she leans in, and I quickly meet her. We both fall into our want as I pull the covers back over her shoulders, needing to keep her warm even as I think of all the dirty things I want to do to her—when she is fully and forever mine.
Her kisses slow, and my lips chase after hers as she pulls away. Paloma wraps her arms around my neck and nuzzles her face into my neck. We both take our time to catch our breath.
For a second, neither one of us speaks, enjoying being below the star-adorned sky, and I wonder if she realizes her freckles remind me of the constellations I would gaze at during late nights golfing at the range.
The faint scent of cut grass wafts from under the blanket as we adjust, her lying down with her head in my lap.
Looking up at me, she says, “I mean it, Clinton.” She grabs my hand and places it palm down over her heart. “I’m not running.”
“Good. Because I don't intend to let you go this time.”
I watch as a smile grows, but her eyes remain serious. “I don’t know what I’m doing, but I know whatever it is, I want to do it with you. It feels right with you, and I’m tired of fighting against what feels right. I just—I have to work through a few things. Okay?”
I cup her face, rubbing gently back and forth with my thumbs. “We’ll do it together, baby. As long as you’re all in, I am too.”
Pulling her face up to me, I kiss her again and rest my hand on the fullness of her belly, feeling her softness relax into my hard lines.
We sit like this for a long while, enjoying the night air and a kiss that feels more like a promise of our future than anything else.
A promise to try, and it’s really all I can ask from her.
To no longer running.
Not anymore.