“Most definitely.”
I touch my finger to the bright red creature and draw it back just as quick. “Still hot.” I marvel.
“Blow on it.” He gives a soft wink while happily sawing away at his prime rib.
“I save all my blowing for the bedroom.”
“Soph.” He ticks his head back and gives an awkward glance to the camerawoman to our right before he joins me for a quick chuckle. But it’s that steak that’s commandeering his attention.
Most weekends, Rowen would come over and he and Braden would take command of the grill. They ate their way through acres of bovines, so I know for a fact he’s in red bloody carcass heaven.
We enjoy dinner with light conversation that centers mostly on stealing bites of our delicious meals.
“Hey”—I lean in just as a stroke of brilliance hits me—“how about we combine our devious minds to further trick the TSE into gifting us free surf and turf dinners?”
The twinkle lights blink on and off, and we share a quick laugh. Either the guys in the control room have a sense of humor or the universe does. A part of me wants to believe it’s my mother. She was the funniest person I knew. I wonder what she would think if she knew what Rowen and I were up to? She once told me that Rowen Garret had the moon tied to a string. I think I get it now. He’s so brilliant and gorgeous, the world, the moon, they both bow to his whims. And she was right.
The music grows louder as a sappy slow song floats through the speakers.
“I think that’s our cue.” Rowen lifts me by the hand as we head to the center of the gazebo.
“What? No dessert?” I can’t help but giggle up a storm as Rowen wraps those strong arms around me, the warmth from his body mingling with mine.
“I think this is dessert.” His lids hang low and lusty just the way I like them, and I lean in, relaxing my body over his. Suddenly, the cameras surrounding us feel all too prominent. And even though there are only two camera people here at the moment, doing their best to shoot from afar like well-trained snipers, I know for a fact there are all sorts of hidden cameras planted all over this rooftop capturing us from every angle, although, I’m not sure why. Didn’t Seth mention production costs were higher than they expected? I don’t see why they don’t forgo the camera and mics with Rowen and me since we’re basically the cutting room floor specials.
Rowen’s mouth finds mine, and he dusts his lips slowly over me. He pulls back with that drugged look in his eyes, and I’m right there with him.
“Is that all I get for dessert?” My tongue does a quick sweep of my lower lips without meaning to.
Rowen flexes a dull smile. “In the mood for more?” His dimple twitches in and out, and it’s downright dangerous.
“There are some things that I can never get enough of.” The words swim from me, slow and breathy as my chest pounds like a conga drum.
“Come here.” He leans in and touches his lips over mine, lingering there for a moment. Rowen and I tease one another with exceptionally slow kisses, grazing teeth, and teasing tongues, pulling one another’s lower lips out slow like taffy, and suddenly I want the production crew, all of Leland University to disappear so that Rowen and I can take my prom night to a whole other level.
His lips kiss a line from my mouth to my temple, his quickened breathing rushes in my ear like waves crashing on the shore.
“You have plans after this?”
A dull laugh works its way up my throat, but I swallow it down as I shake my head. I love the fact we’re having a clandestine conversation right here in the open, miked up and with the watchful eye of the TSE on us.
“Good,” he rumbles low and erotic. “Because you’re coming with me.”
And just like that, the sweet spot that begs for Rowen Garret’s touch gives an uncontrollable quiver. Nothing awkward at all about having an orgasm in your new boyfriend’s arms while the world seemingly watches. We sway to the music, our bodies pressed tight against one another, our lips slowly savoring every last kiss.
And as soon as production wraps on my senior prom reprisal, Rowen takes me by the hand and we exit the building together, bypass the dormitories, and head straight for the parking lot. Rowen won’t give a clue as to where he’s taking me.
But as long as I’m with Rowen, wherever we are is the only place I want to be.
Rowen’s truck is brand spanking new and fully loaded with enough bells and whistles that I’m fully convinced it could lift off for space at any moment.
“I’m pretty excited about this magical mystery date.” I lean in and run my hand over his rock-hard forearm. “Am I dressed for the occasion?”
He takes his eyes off the road momentarily to glance over. “You won’t need clothes for what we’re about to do.”
Crap! My vagina clenches with just as much excitement as my heart. Surely Rowen isn’t planning on hitting a homer on opening night, right? I mean, this is basically our first official date as a couple. But then again, he is Rowen Garret, Leland’s resident playboy. To him getting naked right out the gate is just a basic operating procedure for a standard first date.
“Relax, Sugar Puss. I’m teasing.” He gives my knee a quick tweak.
“Maybe I prefer getting naked to hearing that nickname again. You got that, Colossal Crotch?” Nice try, but Colossal Crotch is basically an ego-inflating compliment that I’m sure he’d pay me to shout out in bed. Come to think of it, Sugar Puss may not be a bad mattress moniker either.
He winces into the road and manages to look that much more comely than he already is. “You got me. I won’t call you Sugar Puss if you don’t call me Colossal Crotch.”
“Rumor has it, it’s true as God. But, you know me. I’ve never been one to rely on word of mouth. I’m into investigative journalism myself.” I sink in my seat. Crap. I’ve all but propositioned him. If I’m not careful, I’ll be testing out the gravitational pull while firmly seated on Rowen Garret’s lap rocket.
His lids lower to the point his eyes are all but closed, never a good look for the one who’s in the driver’s seat. “Maybe I’m into investigative journalism, too.” He pulls into a dark meadow and kills the engine before looking over. “Sugar Puss.”
Holy crap. I have never been so turned on in all of my life. The fact that lewd nickname—that my father of all people christened me with—was uttered by Rowen, makes my heart drum ten times harder than I ever thought possible. God, I’m going to have a cardiac episode. And is having a heart attack while losing your virginity a thing? Because I swear on all that is holy, I’m about to venture into heart-stopping Rowen Garret waters.
Rowen comes over and helps me out. “You’re shivering.” His arms wrap around me tight as he lands a brief kiss to my lips. A kiss without a single camera present, and I die a thousand exhilarating deaths. It’s happening. Rowen and I are happening.
The sounds of rushing water, the smell of fresh pines and wet earth tip me off to the fact we’re smack in the middle of Paradise Falls, the most romantic locale in all of Moon Ridge—all of Colorado for that matter. I’ve dreamed for years of the day one of my sleazy dates would haul me up here with less than chaste intentions, and here I am with my childhood crush of all people.
“Are you still cold?” Rowen rubs my arms with his warm hands.
“The air is a little frigid.” The wind picks up, and my chest bucks just trying to keep my lungs from freezing and collapsing. I’m pretty sure frigid is a word seldom uttered on the night most girls hand in their V-card. “Okay, it’s cold as a meat locker.” I glance to the breathtaking falls with their iridescent glow, the way they arch into the sky and blend seamlessly into the night like an ethereal dream. They’ve always held a certain magic—and, on a night like tonight, it’s apparent magic abounds just about everywhere. “I’m pretty sure even a quick dip in that water would land both of us in the morgue. It’s a heart-stopping view all right. But if it means inaugurating me into the colossal club, then I might rethink my stance on post-mortem e
xistence.”
Rowen belts out a laugh as he leads us down the dirt trail that winds around the truck, and there to the left of the falls sits a large blue tent lit up like a paper lantern against the velvet moonless night.
“For you.” He dots my cheek with a kiss.
“Rowen!” I gasp at how wonderfully romantic of him it was to provide four walls and a roof on this the night I plan on thoroughly taking advantage of him. It may be our first official date, but I’ve waited all my life for this night. “I love it.” I wrap my arms around his neck and gaze into those soulful crystalline eyes. My heart stops. The entire world stops spinning as every last molecule in my body electrifies to life. “And I love you, Rowen.” My face pinches with heat as I say the words. I have waited all my life to say it exactly that way.
“Soph.” He rubs his thumb gently over my cheek, my lips. His gaze bears hard into mine, and I know whatever he’s about to say he means it with every bone in his beautiful body. “I love you, too.” His eyes close a moment with what I’m hoping isn’t regret. “I love you so much it hurts. I’m sorry about all the pain I’ve caused. I never meant to hurt you.”
Tears come, and I hate myself for it. My lips invert, trying to keep the river that’s about to erupt at bay. “I’m not hurting anymore. You’ve come back. You healed me.”
A single tear rolls down his cheek, and I’m mesmerized by it. All those years I spent thinking Rowen had buried his heart in tundra and here it is, thawed and offering up its love for me. Rowen lands a soft kiss over my lips before picking me up in his arms and carrying me to the luminescent tent. We head inside, and I spot a sleeping bag spread over the floor, pillows, and a lantern glowing in the corner.
“This is insanity! You are so romantic! You really went all out for our first date. Honestly, I would have pegged you for the type to bend me over the backseat.”
A growl rips from his chest. “That’s a second date move, sweetie.”
We share a quick laugh as he lands us onto the slippery fabric below.
“But seriously”—Rowen sits across from me, cross-legged, as if we’re about to play a board game—“I want to talk to you about a few things.”
“Like how well I’ve sailed through puberty?” I reach down and pull off my dress without waiting for an invite.
“Soph, don’t.” He swallows hard while taking in the view. And he should, considering I’ve donned matching lace panties and a barely there bra. “Shit.” His eyes close as if I’ve just knifed his balls off, but I don’t take it as an insult. Instead, I crawl right onto his lap. “This isn’t why I brought you here, I promise.” His sturdy fingers stroke up and down my abdomen, letting me know otherwise. “You are beautiful.” He lands a stoned kiss to my chest right in between the girls. Rowen’s warm breath lights a fire over my flesh, and that sweet spot between my thighs is right back to quivering. Dear God, I don’t think I can handle much more. I have never pegged myself as someone who would scream her head off in a moment of ecstasy. I thought those were sad exaggerations made popular in movies just to make women look like raving lunatics in the sack. But, God Almighty, if this man’s hot mouth ventures anywhere else on my body, I will howl like a yeti until every Bigfoot hunter in the country has our tent surrounded with rifles.
“We can’t do this,” Rowen pants while tackling me down to the ground as gently as possible. His chest pounds frantic as if he just ran the field twice over, and his eyes are blazing with possibilities. “I didn’t bring protection.”
“What?” I bark up at him, more disappointed than I am angry, but by the way I just belted it out, you couldn’t tell the difference. “You always carry protection! I remember you telling Braden it was like the American Express card—you never left home without it!”
He inches back with a laugh. “That was five years ago.”
I give his ribs a quick pinch, and he bucks. “Admit that it’s still true today.”
“It’s still true.” He raises his arms in surrender. His laughter dies down as his eyes connect with mine once again. “Just not today.”
“Why?” It comes out hard, my sense of humor, though always on tap, is currently at a trickle. “Don’t you want me, Rowen? Don’t you think we’re good together?”
“Yes.” He shakes his head as his hands float down my body. His thumbs pause to hitch into either side of my little lace panties. “God, I want you.” Rowen buries his face in my neck and takes a deep breath. “I just think we should take things slow. You know, feel things out a little before we get there.” He buries a wet kiss in my ear. “And we will get there.”
My girl parts indulge in a nonstop quiver like cheerleaders at the big game. If Rowen doesn’t score the touchdown soon, he should very much fear the revolt my body will unleash.
“Soph”—he pulls back just enough for me to see those heavy eyes—“I didn’t bring one on purpose. I just wanted to be near you tonight. I thought maybe we could talk about things.” That hard problem blooming in his pants presses against my thigh, letting me in on the fact he’s having one very big regret.
“I don’t want to talk about things.” I reach over and grab the little red clutch Ember tucked in my hand before I left. She let me know there was a good luck charm in the side pocket before revealing a condom that boasted of extra ribbing and extra lube. At first, I thought it was disgusting, and most likely a bad luck charm, but suddenly I’m an ardent admirer of Ember’s forward thinking. I fish around the tiny clutch until I come up with gold. “It would be my honor to introduce the Colossus to my—” I don’t have the heart to say that demented nickname I was stuck with.
He snatches the condom out of my hand and I try to snatch it right back, but he raises his hand higher and higher with that obnoxious dull laugh thumping through him.
“Rowen! This is important to me. I’m ready. I want this with you.” I give his arm a hearty swat. “Don’t make me beat it out of you.”
“You’re going to beat it?” A dark laugh gurgles from him.
His lids hang heavy again, and I’m done. Rowen in a tux, plus that stoner look in his eyes equals his clothes are coming off right fucking now.
“Rowen.” I sit up, and he pulls me forward, landing me just shy of his lap. “Not in one of my dream scenarios did I ever have to beg you to take me.”
He leans in with those deeply inquisitive eyes, his lips twisting with curiosity.
“Confession,” I whisper. “I fell in love with you the moment we met. You had my grammar school heart wrapped around your obnoxious middle grade finger from that day forward. And when you left, you took my heart right along with you. I didn’t want it back—I still don’t.”
“Soph.” He closes his eyes a moment as he pulls me in close. “I have a confession to make, too.” There’s a resolute sadness on his face as if it pained him to say it. “That day you and Mindy asked me to take you out—and we got in the wreck?”
I growl because that night is at the top of my shit list as far as days go.
Rowen lands another kiss to my lips before bearing into me. “I was about to ask you to the prom, Sophie. I was planning on taking you the entire time. But then the accident happened.”
Rowen was going to ask me? My heart stops as the idea sinks in.
“And the next day, our world blew apart.” I bite down over my lip to keep it from tugging to the side.
Rowen doesn’t say a word. His hardened features say it all. His lips part as he readies to say something, and I land a finger over it.
“Were you really going to ask me?”
He gives a solemn nod. “I was.”
He was. And it’s at that moment I can feel our hearts sewing themselves together in a way I never knew possible. Rowen lands his mouth over mine, his lusty tongue lashing out in one sweet stroke after another. His hot mouth trails down, hitting the hollow of my neck, and his tongue does a little twirl. Rowen dives deeper, landing in that well between my boobs, and I bite down over my bottom lip to keep from giggl
ing, to keep from crying out like some hysterical lunatic.
The feel of his lips, that soft scruff on his cheeks, his breath over me in this most intimate place makes me moan with pleasure. Rowen reaches back and unhooks my bra, and the girls pop up as if they were overeager to join the party. They are, but still.
Rowen leans back, and I quickly toss my lacey pink boulder holder to the ceiling. But Rowen isn’t interested in my quasi-stripper routine. He can’t take his eyes off the girls. And up until this moment only Vi and I have laid eyes on them post-puberty.
A crooked grin grows on his face as he sits up a moment. “You’ve bloomed nicely, Meyer.”
“Shut up and kiss me.” I pull his head down to where it needs to be, and Rowen licks and sucks with a renewed fury. His fervor picks up pace, as his grazing, his downright biting grows more severe as if he’s teaching them a lesson, and the harder he sucks, the faster he lashes them with his tongue, the harder it is for me to catch my breath.
Oh my God. I’m going to come. This is a real situation, and I’m pretty sure O-ing over a few heated kisses isn’t how this is supposed to work. I’ve seen my fair share of movies to know that we’ll be heaving our way to oblivion at the very same time. For me to lose my shit now would just be downright greedy.
Rowen pushes the girls together and blows a series of soft kisses over the two of them before landing me onto my back. That sleepy look in his eyes is beyond anything I’ve seen. He’s lost in his lust for me, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
His lips find mine before he dips his mouth to my ear. “I think it’s time for the feast of the gods.”
My heart stops. I can’t take my next breath. “Is that a threat?” I meant for it to sound light and witty, but it came out with a tremble in my voice.
“That’s a promise.”
Rowen pulls back and offers a drugged grin before dripping down my body with those achingly slow kisses. He evicts my panties, inching them off my body, leaving a fire in their wake.