I was so lost and caught up in the kiss that I hadn’t heard the whistles from someone who was out on a boat.
And neither had Carter because he was still kissing me, until the moment he slowly pulled his lips from mine, then he rested his forehead against mine, “Better stop.”
I nodded, then whispered, “Yeah.”
He pulled his forehead away, looked at my lips, smiled, then he looked down at my shirt, cocked his brow, then he looked back up at me, “Come to think of it, that shirt looks awfully familiar.:
I felt my cheeks tinge pink, “Umm.”
He winked, “Fucking cute. Looks better on you.”
Then he reached back and tagged the bag of food but not before pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
My thigh was brushing his, and when I shifted my leg to give him a little space, his hand came down softly on my thigh, and I stilled, “Been craving your touch for years. Don’t take it away from me. Please.”
I nodded, and then together we ate the meal my parents had thrown together.
Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and apple pie.
We sat there, talking about our hopes and dreams, and at his sixth yawn, I narrowed my eyes at him.
He chuckled as he shook his head, “Fine.”
***
Half an hour later, we were outside my front door.
“Need to tell you something.” He said as he caressed my lips with his own.
I nodded, “Okay.”
He wrapped his big hand around the nape of my neck and said, “When I’m down there in the deepest parts, so fucking dark, you wouldn’t believe, there’s always a little light, guiding me on my way back home. To you.”
I smiled up at him as a tear trailed down my cheek and then smiled even wider when he brought his thumb up and brushed the tear away.
“Be that for you. Happy to,” I whispered.
He winked, “Okay, get some sleep.”
And yes, he didn’t walk away until he heard my locks click in place.
And then I had a thought.
I unlocked my door, just as Carter was halfway down my porch.
At the sound of my door opening, he stopped mid-step and turned his head to look up at me, “You, okay?”
I nodded, “Yeah. But I don’t want you to make the drive home, I know you're tired. And you said you didn’t want me to take my touch away, so umm, wanna stay the night?”
I watched as his body twisted to face me as he came up my stairs, and then his hand was wrapped around the back of my neck, “You sure?”
I nodded, “Yeah. You’ve got at least half an hour or more of driving. Stay here. With me.”
He winked down at me. Don’t have to ask me twice, Harlee Belle.”
Then, together with his hand in mine, we walked into my house, he flipped the locks, and then I led him to my bedroom.
I went into the bathroom and changed into my pajamas and did what I needed to do.
