I kissed her, stopping her from saying anything else. “I just want to make it special for you, especially when we are together.” I pulled back and looked into her full eyes. “And it’s been a long time since I was with anyone. Fifteen years, to be specific.” That truth could have been what ended all of this, words that would have her question what the hell was wrong with me that I’d stayed celibate for so long. “I just realized I didn’t need that in my life unless it was with someone special.” I smoothed my fingers along her cheeks. “So we can wait. We have all the time in the world. Okay, baby?”
“Okay,” she whispered and now was the one to cup my face, keeping our foreheads locked together, kissing me softly and sweetly.
“Okay,” I said in response and then wrapped my arms fully around her and just held her.
I just held her, and God it was one of the greatest fucking sensations I’d ever experienced in my life.
9
Dolly
One week.
Seven days.
That’s how much time had passed since I’d shared the most intimate experience of my life, and we hadn’t even had sex. And in those last seven days, Tristan hadn’t so much as touched my finger or brushed a stray strand of my hair behind my ear.
Although I saw him watching me constantly, I knew he was giving me time because he didn’t want to rush things. But didn’t he know I was more than willing, so ready, to be his in every imaginable way?
I didn’t want to dream or hope that things would be more than just one intimate night between Tristan and me, but I felt like he did want this as desperately as I did; he just didn’t want to screw things up by going too fast.
And I could see things getting awkward and tense if we just jumped in the sack.
But was I hoping too much that he wanted something special, something that was solid between us and that’s why he hadn’t moved things along then, or now?
I braced my hands on the bathroom counter and stared at myself in the mirror.
Over the last week I’d been increasingly antsy and anxious, desperate for more of his touches, more kisses. I’d even gone as far as almost taking matters into my own hands, but just last night over dinner he asked if he could take me somewhere tonight. A date. Just him and me, where we could talk and get to know each other more.
Of course I’d said yes, holding in my girlish excitement. Although I didn’t have anything new to tell him. I’d divulged every aspect of my life whenever he asked, and he was forthcoming with answers every time I asked a question.
I took a steadying breath and straightened. I gave myself one more look over, my makeup minimal, my outfit just a pair of form-fitted jeans and a baby doll style floral blouse. I wore a pair of Keds, and although I would have dressed up more for a date, Tristan had suggested I go a more relaxed route for tonight.
I turned off the light as I left the bathroom and headed out of the bedroom to meet Tristan in the foyer. My shoes made a soft sound along the hardwood flooring, and I rounded the corner before stopping when I caught sight of Tristan standing by the front door. He wore a pair of distressed jeans and a dark button-up shirt. The first few buttons were undone, showing the white T-shirt underneath, and his hands were tucked into the front pocket of his jeans. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, exposing his thickly muscled and veined forearms.
My heart beat hard and erratically against my chest when he turned fully around, and our gazes locked. I didn’t miss how he looked me up and down, couldn't stop the flush that stole over me at how heated his expression became.
“You look… beautiful, Dolly.”
I glanced down at myself and murmured, “You said wear something comfortable. It’s nothing much.” I lifted my head and gasped at the fact he was right in front of me. He cupped either side of my face and leaned down to kiss me long and slowly before resting his forehead against mine.
“You are absolutely, utterly beautiful. And I would still say that if you were wearing a burlap sack.”
I laughed softly even as my heart swelled and my body softened.
“Come on, let's get our date started, yeah?”
I pulled back and smiled. “Yeah.”
Ten minutes later we were in his truck and headed to someplace unknown to me.
“So you’re not going to tell me where we are going?” He kept his focus on the road ahead, but his grin was instant. The music that came from the radio was low, not loud enough to actually hear what song was being played, but loud enough to give the interior of his truck some background noise.
“Nope. I hope you like surprises,” he said and glanced at me for a second. “Although it’s not like some huge night, I do hope it’s memorable.”
I kept looking at him even when he stared out the front windshield again, feeling this fluttering in my belly at the very sight of him. I didn't know if I believed in love at first sight. I certainly had never experienced it. But I did believe in what I felt for Tristan that first moment I really saw him at my “going off to college” party all those years ago.
It was a feeling that had stuck with me all this time, a sensation and need and want that had grown even if I told myself to let it go. And ever since coming back to Cherry Falls, ever since living with him over this last week, those feelings and desires had grown so much that they threatened to overflow from me.
“I honestly don’t get many surprises, but I can say with certainty if they are from you I’m looking forward to it.” And just like that, I put my foot in my mouth, and my face became on fire. I snapped my head to the side so I could stare out the passenger side window, the interior of the truck seemingly awfully stuffy all of the sudden.
And then I felt his big, warm hand over mine, which was placed on my thighs. I looked at him, and he glanced over at me, a small smile on his face.
“Hearing you say that…” He cleared his throat and watched the road again. “Yeah. It’s pretty fucking incredible, Dolly.”
Hearing him say that had my belly tightening and my heart palpitating.
I felt my embarrassment fade, and I rested back against the seat once more as I twined my fingers with his. God, why did it feel so good to touch him, even when it was as simple as us just holding hands?
He slowed once we got into the town square and turned into the drive-through of the best burger and milkshake joint in Cherry Falls. He ordered their special, two The Falls burgers, a double order of their crispy, seasoned curly fries, and fried apple cakes, and finished the order with two orange cream milkshakes.
And then we were off again with the bags and drinks in tow and headed to our next destination, which I soon found out was the Cherry Falls movie drive-in. I felt my eyebrows rise to my hairline as I glanced between the drive-in entrance and Tristan. He was grinning from ear to ear.
As I stared into his blue eyes and knew that things seemed to be moving at lightning speed, I’d never heard words that resonated with me so deeply as what Tristan had just said.
“I want everything with you, Tristan.”
And then he groaned and kissed me over and over again, and the movie was forgotten.
10
Tristan