Ah. So he knew already. I guess this should make things a little less awkward. “Okay. Since it’s the last day of my impromptu holiday, you have to make it count,” I encourage him, clapping my hands.
He laughs. “Oh, I will, babe. Don’t you worry. I’ll leave you so mind-blown, you’ll be coming back here next year.”
The way the endearment slips out of him without him even realizing it warms my heart. It’s not the first time either. I’ve mostly ignored the way it makes me feel, but today I find that impossible. I just like how it sounds aimed at me and coming out of his mouth. The way he says it so easily, as if it’s the most natural thing.
“What?” he prompts, glancing at me with a raised eyebrow and pouty lips.
“What what?”
“You are looking at me like I’ve grown horns,” he snorts, grinning.
I imagine that being the case, how he would look with two curved silver horns. His unruly black curls would surround them, creating a contrast that would make his boyish charm stand out even more.
“I think they would look good on you. You would make an amazing satyr for Halloween.”
“I’m not sure I have the sexual appetite to depict one correctly, but I am willing to try if you agree to be my nymph next year.”
A pleasant shudder races through me.Next year. I like the sound of that. The implication, too, along with the intense spark that now inhabits Jake’s gorgeous whiskey-like depths. I’m not big on Halloween, but I’d be willing to give it a try with the right incentive. I don’t know much about Greek mythology either, but satyrs are said to be extremely sexual beings who often go after human women or nymphs.
“I’ll think about it.”
We walk for a few minutes in companionable silence, our fingers intertwined. I’ve not put on my gloves yet as the temperature isn’t so low, and Jake hasn’t either. It allows us to absorb each other’s body heat, then give it back so we can absorb it again. It’s comfortable.
As I grip him firmer so I can feel more of him, he does the same. Flutters invade my stomach and chest, awfully hard to ignore as my heart begins pounding like mad. I don’t know what this man does to me, but I love every second of it. Just a simple touch is enough to make me nervous in the best way, just a word to make me buzz.
Trying to distract myself from the way my stomach twists with anticipation, I wonder about his plans for the day. He was clearly exaggerating. Or so I think before we reach a frozen lake. Two pairs of ice skates are propped by a wooden gazebo, where blankets and a portable gas heater await. A basket of food is tucked on the corner bench. Fragrant pines crest the lake, their snow-decorated crowns rustling softly at the hands of the howling mountain breeze. It’s like I’ve been transported into a fairytale. Everything is glinting and sparkling as I lazily walk hand in hand with the most perfect man in the entire world so we can enjoy a winter picnic.
“How hungry are you? I recommend we skate first so we can work out an extra appetite,” Jake suggests, nudging me toward the skates.
“Okay. But I must let you know that I’ve never skated before.”
He aims those whiskey eyes at me, wide and amused. “Really? Don’t rich kids try all sorts of fancy sports? I can totally picture you as a figure skater.”
“Is figure skating considered fancy?” I pose, putting on the skates. I used to rollerblade as a teen, and I’ve heard skating is very similar.
Folding his arms, Jake considers my question. “I thought so? I mean, look at the clothes they wear and the way they move. It’s all very elegant. Plus, consider the money that goes into running and maintaining an ice rink. Especially somewhere warm. The lessons must cost a fortune.”
“What about hockey? Is that for rich kids, too?” I ask, handing him his pair of skates. “It’s not exactly the most elegant sport, but itisplayed on the rink, too.”
He sits on the bench next to me and drums his fingers along his knee. Then he scratches his head before starting on the skates. “Okay. Maybe my logic is a little flawed. But it made sense until you pointed out a couple tiny loopholes.”
He’s cute. So cute in fact that I lean in and seal our mouths together once he’s done tying the laces. He melts into the kiss, wrapping his arms around my neck and pulling me close. Sparks explode all over me, shooting heat south. I love every second of our exchange, the little noises of pleasure he makes, the way he tastes like coffee and cream and smells like herbs and crispy mountain air.
It’s just the two of us in this wild place. The sun is high in the cloudless sky, the snow-covered trees whisper quietly around us. It’s the perfect stolen moment, despite the cold. Nothing matters but us. Nothing exists but this dreamlike place. I take it in with all my senses, burying my hands into the snow piled on the edge of the bench as our kiss deepens.
Jake takes control, driving me crazy and hot with his tongue as his hands roam and massage my back. I wish we were naked so I could feel him more. But a single picnic blanket won’t be enough to keep us warm. Still, maybe I could satiate my hunger with a touch or two.
“What are you doing, exactly?” Jake chuckles, grabbing my hand as I try to slip it in his pants.
“My hand slipped?” He rolls his eyes and arches an eyebrow. “Okay. I want to stroke your cock?”
He groans, tightening his hold around my wrist. “Um, no. I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
“Because we are skating first. Then eating. And then I have another surprise for you. I’m already horny as it is. If you go anywhere near my dick, I’m dragging you right back to the hotel and having my wicked way with you so you can’t walk for at least four days.”
That doesn’t sound too bad. But I’ve also loved every second of Jake’s companionship. I’m excited and curious to know what he has planned for today. Ravishing him one last time can wait until the evening.
