Page 26 of When I Found You

“Sure, you want a blanket to keep you warm?” I offer, knowing that with the sun down, the fall chill is going to set in soon.

“That’d be perfect.”

I grab a light blanket from the living room and top off my glass. “You want a refill?” I offer, holding up the pitcher of lemonade.

“I’m good for now,” she says, grabbing the blanket from me as she makes her way back outside. The sky is free of clouds tonight and this neighborhood is far enough away from all the downtown lights that you can actually see the stars when they’re out.

I take a seat next to Stacey on the swing Dad has out here on the porch. She wraps the blanket around herself, some of it covering my lap. I lift an arm, placing it along the back of the seat, and motion for her to move in close to my side. She takes my offer and slides right in next to me. I bring my hand down, pulling her in just a little tighter to my side.

We sit in silence, both staring up at the sky as I rock us lightly in the swing.

“Do you know anything about astronomy?” I ask, breaking the silence between us.

“Not really. You?”

“Nope. I can usually find the Big Dipper, nothing more than that.”

“Sounds about like me. But I do enjoy sitting out here, just looking at the stars. It’s so peaceful. And it’s nice to just be, ya know? Life is usually so go-go-go all the time, so to sit out here with you and just take it all in is nice. Thanks for asking me to come over tonight. I’ve really enjoyed getting to meet your dad. I can see where your personality and charisma come from. You’re like his mini-me,” she tells me.

“Thank you for coming and spending your evening with two bachelors.” I drop a kiss to her temple.

“Can I ask you something kinda frankly?” she asks, a few moments later, eyes still on the stars above us.

“Anything. I never want you to hold anything back. I’ll always answer you truthfully.”

“What are we doing? What do you want from this?” she asks as she fidgets with her hands, rubbing them together nervously.

“I’ve asked myself the same question so many times today, and the best answer that I can come up with is we’re spending time together, getting to know each other better,” I tell her, pausing long enough to take a drink. “I’ve never wanted anything serious with anyone, but the thought of leaving here on Sunday without knowing that I’ll get to see you and talk to you again tears my fucking heart out. I don’t know what it is about you, but you have me wanting something I’ve never wanted before. It’s messing with my head just a little bit, if I’m completely honest with you.”

My words have a huge smile filling her lips, so at least I haven’t scared her off yet.

“You came out of left field, that’s for sure,” she replies, obviously still processing what I’ve told her as she formulates a response. “I-I’m also not looking forward to you having to leavenext weekend. But at least you’re only an hour or so away. We can see each other on the weekends, if we wanted. I can drive up to see you, so you don’t always have to be the one driving down here. That is, if you want to see where this goes between the two of us.”

“Stacey, let me make this as clear as I can. I want you. I don’t know how that will work out all the time, but make no mistake, I’m staking my claim. You’re mine,” I growl as I slam my lips to hers, then pull her into my lap so she’s straddling me as I kiss her deeper.

She breaks the kiss and brings her forehead to mine as we both suck in a few breaths. “Take me to bed, Peyton,” she says and I spring into action. I stand up and she wraps her legs around my waist. The blanket that was wrapped around her drops to the deck. I snag a corner of it and pull it up, setting it on the swing. Once I’m free of the blanket and not worried about tripping over it, I stalk inside. Stacey’s lips have found my neck and are driving me fucking crazy. My dick is as hard as a steel pipe and pressed against the zipper of my jeans, trying to bust its way out of my pants.

I make it back to my bedroom and lay Stacey out on the center of my bed. I kiss her quickly on the lips before I push back off the bed. I walk over to shut and lock the door, then reach behind my head, grabbing the collar of my t-shirt and pull it off over my head in one swoop. I watch Stacey’s face as I do, and notice her pupils dilate once the skin of my torso is exposed.

“Like what you see?” I ask, as she bites that plush bottom lip of hers.

“Mmmhmm…” she agrees, a smile now cresting her lips.

I close the distance between the door and the bed once again, opening the nightstand drawer and pulling out a strip of condoms. I rip one package off, toss it on one of the pillows, andplace the rest of the strip on the top of the nightstand for easy access.

“A little sure of yourself?” she asks, her left eyebrow cocked up as she motions to the strip of condoms on the nightstand.

“Just making sure we’re prepared.” I wink at her. “Are you going to be able to be quiet tonight, or do we need to pack this up and take it to your place?”

“Um…I’d like to think I could be quiet,” she says, a coy smile on her lips. “And as much as I’d like to already be naked underneath you, the thought of going back to my place where wedon’thave to worry about how loud we are sounds appealing, as well.”

“You’re killing me right now.” I groan as I hover over her on the bed. “So, are we being quiet?” I ask, dropping a peck to her lips, punctuating my question. “Or are we leaving?”

I kiss her again, and this time, I linger, drinking her in as I explore her mouth with my own. I feel her fingers trail a path around my body, resting against my back as she attempts to pull me closer.

I break the kiss, wanting so bad to move things along and sink inside of her, but I don’t want either of us to have to hold back. “That’s it, we’re going to your place. I’ve made up my mind,” I tell her as I find my shirt and pull it back over my head. “Let’s go. I need inside you.”

I pull her up until she’s standing in front of me. Stacey grabs her things and I write a quick note for my dad, letting him know I’ll be back tomorrow morning. “I’ll follow you,” I tell her before I close her car door.

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