I giggle. "Thank you, you're not so bad yourself. How about a walk on the beach before dinner?"
Leaning closer to me. He whispers conspiratorially. "I'd like that."
Offering me his arm, we weave in and out of the numerous dunes until finally reaching the beach. "I've always loved this beach, and when I was younger, I wanted to be kidnapped by pirates." I admit.
He laughs heartily. "Is that an invitation to kidnap you?"
Lightly bumping his hip with mine, I smile. "The jury's still out. I'd want you to wear an eye patch though."
He crosses his fingers. "Jury's usually like me, and an Amazon search is only a few clicks away."
I roll my eyes. "Why stop with just a patch, when you could get the whole outfit?"
He smiles, with a shrug. "What made you set up your Twisted account?"
"I'm looking for a possible long term relationship, but still open to something short term. How about you?"
"I'm open to anything really. I just moved here from California, so I'm looking to make friends first." He answers honestly.
I respect his honesty. "Cali is a long way from Georgia. What made you pick Pixie Hollow?"
He shrugs. "I come with a lot of baggage that's too heavy for a first date, but I'm trying to get better everyday. PHU was the furthest Ivy League I could run to and my parents still foot the bill for it."
My grip on his arm tightens. I don't know what he's done or what he's been through, but I'm a sucker for an underdog. "Well, I'm glad you're here."
We walk in companionable silence just enjoying each other's company. This is the first time I've been around another guy and felt something for them.
Which is pretty damn awesome, because if I can be interested in someone other than the Donovan's then there's hope I won't eventually wind up as the scary neighbor lady that everybody thinks is a witch.
Wincing, I decide it's time to discuss some of my baggage. It could save him a trip to the hospital after all. "In honor of first date baggage, my stepbrothers, Gunner and Kaiwill be livid if they catch us together. They think I should focus on school instead of guys."
I don’t add that we have this weird relationship dynamic going on between us. I’ve kissed them both, and one of them likes to rub their erection on me while the other one likes me to call him daddy. That would definitely not be first date etiquette.
He chuckles. "Ah. I get it, y'all grew up together?"
I look away from the intensity of his stare, because I don't want him to see my expression. Heavy on the nope. "Not really, it's been two years, but I haven't had an easy life. So, they are extra protective."
Bringing us to a screeching halt, he brings my gaze to his. "Please, don't hide from me, I don't like that. If this date continues in the direction that it's going, your stepbrothers will have to deal with me."
My eyes widen, I love his authoritativeness, and for the first time tonight he reminds me of them. I love and hate that about all of them.
In theory being dominant is a bad quality to have, but like a bad habit I've been running toward red flags since I met the Donovan's. I don't see that stopping any time soon.
"If that time comes, I want y'all to get along, and not be alpha holes that you apparently are." I'm a naturally born submissive and a people pleaser to boot so it's not easy for me to be so plain spoken.
I'm tired of wishing for things that will never belong to me, and my stepbrothers will never be mine. So I'm going to take matters into my own hands and see who else is out there.
They won't like it, but I know they care about me. In the end, what it really boils down to is what I want, what I like, and to hell with the consequences of what they want.
He smiles down at me. "You seem all prim and proper, but there's a fire burning inside of you that's begging to be let out."
"I'm just tired of living life on the sidelines." Bridging the gap between us, I bury my fist in his jacket to bring him even closer. It's a bold move for me, but I'm ready to live.
"Whether we remain just friends or become something more, I'll never ask that of you." He plants a chaste kiss on my lips.
His gaze darkens but it's not with desire. No, it's with an emotion I'm not exactly familiar with. Even though he's done nothing to warrant my fear, his reaction to our closeness scares the hell out of me all the same.
My heart plummets to my feet, because I’m stupid as hell to walk with a stranger on the beach at night. We haven't passed another soul in minutes, and I couldn't tell you where my car is parked if my life depended on it.
