Jaime slid back until he sat beside me and I felt the ocean breeze blow through my hair. I watched a flock of white birds fly below us along the cliffs. “Do you ever wish you were a bird?” I asked.
“All the time.”
“Why?”
“So I could be free to go wherever I wanted whenever I wanted. So I didn’t feel trapped on this tiny island.”
“You can be a bird, and I’ll be a dolphin. Dolphins have fun, they’re carefree, and they make people happy.”
Jaime stared at the vast ocean.
“If I were a dolphin down there, and you were one of those white birds, I would never eat you. You’re too special to me.” I laughed at my cheesy attempt at flirting and leaned into him.
“You know,” he said, pointing into the horizon, “Way over there you’ll find America. Boston, even.”
Looking out over the blue sky and water, I couldn’t help but wonder what my friends were doing back home. I had been in Ireland for almost three months and I had yet to feel homesick, beyond a fleeting moment of time. Sitting on that cliff, knowing my life was so far from where I was, I realized that for the first time in a long time, I was happy being away from the influence and expectations of my family and friends.
“Maybe one day you can visit me,” I said. “I would love that.”
Jaime didn’t reply, but kissed my forehead and pulled me closer. “The sun’s going to set soon, and we have a hike and a bike ride. We should probably go.”
I reluctantly followed, sad to leave this private oasis, but excited for the rest of our night. We watched the sun set behind the ocean as we cycled into town. This is so romantic. I raced the orange fireball, as it disappeared behind the water. How did I get so lucky? Jaime’s head glowed in front of the setting sun, and his smoldering hair had set my heart on fire. Despite the empty road and imminent end to our day, anticipation for the evening enveloped me.
We dropped our bikes at the hostel entrance and settled at the water’s edge, sitting against the rocks with my body pressed against his chest, watching the careless roll of waves lapping the shore. We didn’t return to our room until the stars dotted the slate-gray sky. A single raindrop dabbed my skin, and I pulled my hood over my head.
“Rain,” Jaime said.
I turned toward him, and he kissed me. “Are you hungry?” I asked.
“Aye. Let’s get some food.” He stood and reached out his hand, pulling me beside him.
“I’d like to get out of these sweaty clothes.” We walked to our room, the view of the ocean peeking through the hallway window.
“Is there or isn’t there?” Jaime asked, referring to our bunkmates and holding the door handle to our room closed. “Shall I open?”
I nodded, my body tightening at the thought of being alone with him.
He swung open the door and flipped the light. A dim bulb buzzed above us and illuminated our luggage. Scanning the room, it looked the same as we had left it. I jumped up and down and hugged him.
“Does this mean we are alone tonight?” I raised my eyebrows and tried my hardest to look sexy. Shimmying my shoulders and batting my eyelashes, I knew I looked silly, but I didn’t care. This weekend felt like a date. It was our first official date, and I couldn’t wait to spend the night with him.
Jaime squeezed my shoulders. “Looks that way, but they could show up at any time.”
At the thought of being alone and possibly getting caught, my hormones exploded. Attraction grew in places I hadn’t recognized before, and my hunger for him both terrified and electrified me. I pushed him onto the single bed and lay beside him, kissing his face and focusing on his fiery eyes.
I wanted to remember everything—the slope of his nose, his plump lips, and the shape of his ears. I explored him with my tongue and lips, paying attention to his body.
A small moan escaped me as his tongue ran up my neck to my earlobe. Tiny sparklers danced inside me, and bursts of light flickered behind my eyes.
“Jaime,” I whispered. “Is there any way to lock the door?”
He jogged to the door, slid the lock, and nudged our luggage against it.
I placed my finger over my lips and shushed him. “We need to be quiet.”
He crept back into bed and pulled my shirt over my head. I retreated into myself, exposed and aware. My hands pressed against his shoulders to prevent him from leaning on me, and I stared into his eyes. “I have to talk to you first.”
He didn’t break my gaze and froze above me.
