Layers(18)

I smile back. “Surprise me.”

“And surprised you will be.” He winks.

Could he be any more charming and attractive? I stare at his profile when he turns to face the road and a shiver of excitement runs through me. He pushes the pedal, making the car roar eagerly, and with the release of the brake I am pinned back to my seat by the acceleration. There is a light melody playing in the background.

“What song is that?” I ask and look at him, yet again taking in his handsome profile.

“Just a Boy. Listen to the lyrics.” Turning up the volume he mouths along to the song, eyes still ahead.

I should be listening to these words? Something about a boy meeting a girl and though he doesn’t know why, he quickly fell for her. Anything you want to tell me there, Mr. Stark? My inner smile is threatening to rip me in two.

“Sparkling water?” I offer, intending to open mine.

He turns to me with a wide grin. “Always be prepared.”

“What can I say?” I beam at him and raise my hand in a Girl Scout salute.

“Oh, you were one?” he asks, a side smile still resting on his lips.

“Yes, I was one.” And I am gifted with a wider grin. He seems to be enjoying some private joke, continuing to smirk as he stares straight ahead at the road. I turn to open the second bottle for him.

“No need to open that one, we can share,” he mutters casually.

I guess we could. I hand him mine, he takes a sip, his lush lips circling the opening. I find myself mesmerized by the simple action.

“Here,” he hands me back the bottle, for a brief moment intently glancing at me. Bringing the bottle to my lips I think about the fact that his lips just touched the same place. I sip the water slowly while a warm wave settles in my belly.

~~~

“Here we are,” he declares, pulling the car to a stop next to a lighthouse.




“Let’s go,” he offers, stepping out of the car.

I follow. He circles the car to meet me and takes my hand in his.

“It’s one of my favorite places outside the city,” he tells me. “There’s an amazing view from the top.” I look at him under my lashes with a thin smile and continue following his lead. With him two stairs ahead I shamelessly check his behind. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt me. I smirk, absolutely liking the way his firm butt is nicely snug inside his jeans.

Climbing half way to the top he turns back to face me, his eyes darker and intense, his body close to mine as he looks down at me. Gently he tugs my chin, tipping my face to look up. “Have you been here before?” His voice is velvety soft.

“No, I haven’t.” I blink twice and swallow hard, the spot of my face he touches radiating with heat.

“Good, I am glad I get to show it to you,” he says, and resumes his climbing.

My heart rate hastens both from the exertion and from him. He is all charm and warmth; this is not what I was expecting, for sure.

We’re slightly short of breath for the last few steps. When we reach the top we stand facing each other while easing our rapid breathing. As our eyes meet we chuckle in unison.

“Come,” he extends his hand for me to take, and I do, indulging at the feel of his skin on mine. He leads us to the other side of the tower and we end up standing by the wooden railing. It’s about three a.m. by now and the view that spreads to the horizon is stunning. The sky is a mixture of smoky gray with touches of coal black; the stars are scattered in tiny twinkling dots; the sea beneath is a tempest of pitch black with silver lacing.

“It’s impeccable, Daniel.” I admire the view. When I turn my head next to look his way I meet his face close, very close to mine.

I blush, grateful for the evening dimness. “Do I make you nervous?”

He did notice my blushing. As he waits for my reply his eyes are intent on mine. We stand in charged silence for a while; he brushes away a lock of hair the breeze dropped on my face, making me shiver and my heart wrench.

“Do I?” he repeats.

I slowly shake my head in response, though, quite certain my obvious edginess tells him otherwise. My stomach knots at his question, at my reaction, at his closeness. I find you incredibly attractive, is why, you do make me nervous, and those small gestures of affection startle me. He’s so near, I feel his warm breath on my face and all I want is for him is to kiss me, kiss me right here and now. We stand there, our eyes locked, my face tilted forward, my lips parted, waiting for his to claim them. He bends his head to reach mine. I gasp, waiting anxiously for the touch of his mouth. Bending lower, his mouth finds my neck. With soft fluttering of his lips he ascends slowly toward the delicate skin behind my ear. I stretch my head slightly back to give him better access. Those butterflies in my stomach again. This time they rage.

He presses his body to mine, pinning me against the brick wall fencing the lighthouse. He slightly parts my legs as he moves closer to stand between them. I can feel him against me; his beating heart pounds through my shirt. The intense charge between us almost palpable, making my every molecule melt.

As he lifts his head to look into my eyes I move my mouth closer toward his with intent to take the lead, but he slightly shifts his face away to the other side of my neck and anxiously kisses me there. That seemed deliberate. Is he avoiding my mouth?

He halts unexpectedly to look at me. Holding my chin in his hand he slowly tilts my face so my eyes are even with his. I wait impatiently.