Love Love (28 page)

“
I’m impressed,” I blurt
out.

“
Really…why is that? Were
you expecting empty beer cans and clothes all over the
floor?”

“
Maybe.” I grin. “This
really is a great place. In fact, I don’t think there’s much I
could do here to improve it.”

“
You just being here
improves it.” He throws his keys on the kitchen counter and gently
reaches up to cup my face, his gaze moving intently from my eyes to
my lips. Pulling me in, he wraps his hands around the base of my
neck, my smooth skin settling underneath his fingers and causing
tiny shivers to run through me.

I grab handfuls of his hair, drawing
him in so close that his warm mouth layers mine. His soft breath
teases the sensitive space between my lips, causing me to open and
take in the wetness of his tongue. It feels like heaven inside and
stirs my need for his touch, my desire to touch him.

I slowly let my hands roam from his
waist to the thin cotton of his shirt and ease my palms underneath
to feel his smooth, supple skin. Bursts of air float from his lips
and land on the nape of my neck, making me feel lightheaded. My
toes curl, and my knees weaken.

I stop and look up at him. “Brad?” I
whisper.

“
What, baby?” he says as he
continues nibbling on my neck.

“
It’s yours...” I say
breathlessly.

He pauses and looks up. “What
is?”

I gaze into his brown hazy eyes. “My
heart.”

He immediately lifts me up and carries
me until I feel the texture of the plush green sofa beneath us.
Brad’s lips find mine again as he slowly unbuttons my blouse and I
willingly help him slide it down my heated skin. He pulls me close
and dips his tongue into my mouth, licking every space he can find.
He leaves me and rains hot kisses down the curve of my neck, easing
lower. My breathing accelerates, and my arms prickle with
goosebumps. He pinches the front snap of my blue lace bra and it
pops open. His tongue brushes the curve of my breast as his wet
lips surround my nipple and a tiny whimper slips from my mouth.
Brad drags his hands over every inch of my body, setting off
fireworks, my body crackling and popping in response. I feel his
hands reach the edge of my jeans and he waits, for my approval, I
think, before he eagerly pulls them off, then propels them into the
air without a care as to where they land.

“
Touch me,” I
whisper.

He exhales loudly. His fingers scrape
the lacy edge of my panties and a soft mewl escapes my lips. When I
feel the fabric tickling my legs, I arch my head back in
anticipation as his hand slides between my thighs, the warmth of
his fingers meeting with the damp folds of my skin. More moans fall
aimlessly from my lips as his touch sends me to another place; one
I can’t wait to go to. My body trembles when his fingers begin
massaging that moist spot within me. I latch onto him with a quiet
desperation, blending our bodies together, clawing at him so I can
climb into his heart like he’s climbed inside mine. My breathing
grows heavy as I dig my nails into his muscular shoulders. My body
is climbing and my mind is lost. His sweet scent, mixed with the
feel of his skin against mine, intensifies my need to release the
rapture building inside of me.

He pauses as if to speak. His eyes
look deeply into mine and I try to slow my breathing as I wait for
his words. “Gabby, I need you to know something. You make me feel
things inside, things I’ve never felt…”

I quiet him with my mouth. His words
are my undoing and my insides quiver with the feel of his fingers
sliding in and out of my wetness and the sound of his heavy
breaths. I let go, moaning against his lips, vaguely aware of his
hoarse voice.

“
God, baby, you’re so
beautiful.”

As I float back down and my breathing
slows, I become intensely aware of Brad’s aching hardness through
his jeans, pressing against my inner thigh. I unzip them and tug,
hoping for a little help. He slides them down and I glide my hands
across the muscles of his chest as my fingertips graze the trail of
hair that leads to the elastic of his boxer shorts. Pausing until
his eyes meet mine, I place my hand over my heart. “I want to touch
you, the way that you touch me.”

He lets out a gasp of air at my words
and I reach in and grab hold of him. I’m amazed at the softness of
his skin as I stroke his hard length and moans of pleasure pour
from his lips. I caress him tenderly at first, then more fervently,
his hot breath blowing on my neck as his pants become more intense.
The sweat beads off his brow and I watch his beautiful face contort
with the oncoming contentment of his release. He lets go, calling
out my name, then pulls me close and tenderly strokes my mouth with
his tongue.

As we calm, my fingers wander
aimlessly across Brad’s muscular back, lazily drawing invisible
doodles over his smooth skin.

He lifts his head to mine with utter
sincerity in his eyes. “Are you okay, baby?”

“
Never better,” I respond
happily. “You?”

“
I think you know the
answer to that.”

“
Yeah, I do.”

He reaches behind the sofa and grabs a
soft flannel blanket, tucking us in under the warmth that we’ve
already created. We didn't make love tonight, but it doesn’t
matter. Brad has officially climbed into another corner of my
heart, curled up into a ball, and settled there.

When I wake up in the morning, I feel
disoriented until my blue eyes open to brown ones, a sunken dimple,
and lips that call to me. I lift my fingers to Brad’s cheek. His
skin is soft and flawless. He really is beautiful.

His eyelids flutter and when he opens
them, they’re filled with wonder. “Hi, beautiful,” he says in that
deep throaty voice that makes my insides churn.

“
Hi, yourself.”

“
Some host I am, I didn’t
even offer you my bed.” He rubs the back of his neck and drops a
kiss on my nose.

Smiling contentedly, I move some stray
hairs away from his face and kiss his pink lips. “That’s okay. I
like what you offered.”

Brad watches my mouth and then his
lips land on mine. Even with morning breath, he tastes
divine.

My face goes flat. “Ugh, I forgot to
tell you that my mom’s coming next weekend.”

“
You don’t look that happy
about it. Are you looking forward to seeing her at all?”

A small groan forces its way out. “Not
really. She’s not even coming to see me, she’s coming in for
Fashion Week.” Brad lifts his fingers to my cheek and I let out a
resigned sigh. “It’s okay. It is what it is.”

***

Today,
my grin and good mood are because Brad and I are going to the
beach, my absolute most favorite place in the whole
world.

We’re headed out of the city to Fire
Island. It’s a place Brad suggested, and while I’ve never been
there, I’ve heard it’s quite beautiful. Excitement bubbles up
inside of me. I can already smell the salty water, feel the yellow
sunshine warming my back and the wind blowing through my silky
hair, and hear the rhythmic sound of the waves lulling my soul into
peace.

One day, I want to live in a house by
the ocean. I can’t imagine anything better than starting and ending
my day with the splendor of the sea. Breathing in the ocean air,
feeling alive and exhilarated, yet relaxed and at peace; it’s the
best. It takes all of your troubles and whisks them away, sweeping
them out with the tide, never to be heard from again. Come to think
of it, that’s what Brad has done for me.

I’m dancing around my room singing
“Kiss Me” by Sixpence None The Richer as I gather things up for our
trip. I dig into the back of my closet to find my blue and white
flowery bikini, the one I haven’t worn in years. I’m hoping it
still fits me. Thankfully, I pull it on and it does! The blue
shorts and white tank top still fit, too. I pull my hair into a
messy ponytail and strap on my white sandals. I need to let out one
more squeal of excitement, so I do. Brad plus the beach! I’m not
sure what could be better.

Brad picks me up early and we head
out. It’s a glorious day. The temperature is about eighty degrees,
the sun is beaming brightly, and there isn’t a cloud in the clear
blue sky. The sunroof is down, the windows are open, and the voice
of Van Morrison is cradling us in the moment. Brad takes my hand in
his and tells me he wants to learn everything about me during our
drive. He’s too darn cute to refuse.

“
So, favorite
color?”

“
Purple.”

“
Favorite food? Wait, never
mind…chocolate.”

“
Yup.”

“
Favorite band I already
know…Lifehouse.”

“
Ahhh…”

“
Alright, alright...I know
how you feel about Jason Wade.”

“
Jealous?”

“
Maybe a bit. If only I
could sing.” He grins. “I do have other talents,
though.”

I play with his fingers. “Well, that
remains to be seen.”

“
Is that a
challenge?”

“
Why, do you think you
can
rise
to it?” I
manage to ask with a straight face.

“
Baby, they don’t call me a
superhero for nothing.”

Then I burst out laughing. This is
going to be a great trip.

When we finally arrive at Fire Island,
I’m completely mesmerized. The water is crystal blue and the sand
is smooth with hints of seashells buried throughout. There’s a
smattering of boats in the distance, drifting on the water,
floating free in the greatness of the ocean.

We unload the car and plant ourselves
fairly close to the water. Brad is all smiles and he looks radiant.
Especially when he takes his shirt off and I get a good look at
those golden brown abs. Dear Lord. He looks over at me as I admire
the view. It’s becoming my favorite one.

“
Am I the only one taking
anything off, or are you planning on swimming with your clothes
on?”

I think I’ll have a little fun.
“Actually, I swim in the nude.”

Brad’s eyes grow wide. “Baby, I hope
you’re kidding. I really don’t feel like sharing you with anyone
else.”

“
Of course I’m
kidding.”

His eyes grow even larger as I remove
my shorts and tank top and reveal my relatively skimpy blue and
white flowery string bikini. In fact, I didn’t realize how skimpy
it was until just now. I’ve been feeling more and more comfortable
in my body lately; but I haven’t worn a bikini in years. Perhaps I
should’ve chosen something a little less revealing. Although, since
Brad looks like he wants to devour me, I think I made the right
choice after all.

The sun feels amazing, but I need to
make sure I don’t burn. California girl or not, my fair skin burns
easily. “Brad, can you rub some sunscreen on my back?” I’d like him
to do my front too, but unfortunately, I can reach
there.

“
It’s a tough job, but
someone’s got to do it,” he says wickedly. The blistering sun and
the feel of his fingers gliding over my shoulders in circular
motions are causing tiny little prickles all over my
skin.

Brad leans into my ear and I feel his
hot breath. “Turn over so I can do your stomach.” I nearly fall to
pieces at his words. His eyes never leave mine as he rubs lotion
all over my belly. His touch is driving me crazy, and definitely
not the asylum kind. In a minute, I’m going to pull him on top of
me without a care for anyone else on the beach. He leans over me,
running his long fingers down the side of my face, and then moves
his lips over mine, slowly and deliberately. The sensation of his
wet mouth, the salty air, and the sound of the waves fills me with
desire. When he lifts his lips from mine, he blows out a breath
that cools my searing skin. He tilts his head and gives me a
devious grin. “I think we need to go in the water to cool off…like,
now.”

My lips turn down in a pout. “I’m not
ready to go in just yet.”

He smiles again, but this time says
nothing. Instead, he lifts me up over his muscular shoulder and I
squirm as he carries me into the cold sea. My hands slap his back
while my feet hang in mid-air.