Chapter 37 Collins
We exit the car, and I take her hand, guiding her toward the sights and sounds that await. The giddy stride to her step and the smile that’s yet to fade tells me that this date is much more her type of fun.
As we walk along the beach, the pier looms in the distance, and her eyes are drawn to the huge Ferris wheel at the end of the pier that overlooks the blue water below. I’d seen an old photograph of the ride cut from a magazine and glued onto a page in her scrapbook.
“Are we going up there?” she points to the top.
“If you like,” I say, my tone neutral. I can’t have her knowing how stupidly excited this gets me. “But first, I thought we’d have a picnic dinner on the beach.” I motion to the backpack slung over my arm.
“It’s perfect, Coll.” She lifts up on her toes and plants a kiss on my cheek.
We find a quiet spot, away from the tourists and visitors. From the backpack, I pull out a blanket and bottle of wine. Mia sinks down and digs through the bag, pulling out the rest of the items while I open the wine-she finds two plastic cups, a package of crackers, a block of cheese, fresh berries, sliced lunchmeat and cookies.
“This is amazing. You’re the world’s best boyfriend.” As soon as she’s said it, she slaps a hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
“Don’t be. Is that what I am to you?”
She nods, slowly. “I-I think so.”
“Good. You’re all I want.” I lean in close and kiss her lips. She tastes like wine and strawberries. It’s an intoxicating combination, and I want to feast on her-forget this spread we have laid out before us.
I feel her hand pat my cheek and she pulls away after several minutes. “We better behave.” Her eyes stray to a small family with young children who are down the beach a little ways.
“Fine,” I grumble.
She laughs at me and pops another berry into her mouth.
“Do you like this date better than going to a designer opening?” I ask.
She removes her sandals and digs her toes into the warm sand and shoots me a daring look. “What do you think?”
I smile. “I’ll admit, I want to wow you. I guess I may have been over thinking things.”
“You’ve gotta stop thinking with your head so much.” Placing her palm over my heart, she leans close. “Everything you need to know is right in here.” She pats my chest gently.
“I’m starting to get that,” I say. Listening to my heart is making more and more sense.
After we finish our meal and the bottle of wine, we head to the pier, feeling happy and slightly tipsy. The flashing lights and cheerful sounds of the carnival games draw us in.
We watch a group of kids play a dancing game for several minutes before Mia announces that she wants me to win her a giant stuffed animal. Rising to the challenge, I strut over to the strong man challenge, pay the operator the five bucks and pick up the heavy mallet. Tossing a flirty grin over my shoulder at Mia, I raise the mallet overhead and slam it down against the target. The game erupts into a fit of lights and sounds, sirens whistle and bells ding. I pull Mia into my arms as the operator hands me my ticket for the prize I’ve won. “Let’s go get you that stuffed animal.”
“My hero.” She takes my hand and pulls me to the counter where we discover that my big win was not enough to get her the giant teddy bear she wants. The clerk hands her a miniature pig and we both burst into laughter.
“The size is a little disappointing,” she says, turning the tiny stuffed animal over in her hand.
“There’s a phrase I’ve never heard before.” I smirk.
Realization dawns on her and she swats my shoulder. “You’re awfully cocky.”
I shrug and fix a smile on my mouth. “It’s not cocky if it’s true.”
“Come on, naughty boy, you promised me a ride on that.” She points straight up to where the Ferris wheel rises overhead.
“Yes, ma’am. Come on.” I lace my fingers in hers and tug her toward the ride.
Seated together in the bucket seat, Mia squeals and tucks herself in against my body as we begin to rise. Once we’re at the top, the ride stops, and we enjoy the spectacular view of the sun sinking into the ocean. The moment is perfect and it feels like time has stopped. I love how Mia can turn every day into an adventure and how she’s totally down with eating sugary fair foods and cheered on the little ones playing that dancing game. She makes me happy. Her outlook on life is simple and straightforward. She’s not at all pretentious or phony. I love how warm and sweet she is.
The light breeze lifts strands of Mia’s hair, and as it floats around her face, I place one hand against her neck and guide her mouth to mine. We kiss deeply, our tongues moving together, as a thousand emotions erupt inside of me. One thing becomes abundantly clear: I’m in love with Mia. Maybe I have been all along, but my head is just now figuring out what my heart has always known. My pulse pounds in my ears as the depth of this moment rushes over me. Mia lets out a small moan of pleasure, and I force myself to break the kiss.
“Gremlin…” I growl.
She opens her eyes, lazily, and blinks at me.
“It’s time to get home.”
She can hear the desire in my rough voice, and she nods twice.
When the ride comes to a stop, I help her off, and we hurry back to the Jeep. I need her like I’ve never needed anyone.
***
Mia pushes her hands into my hair and leans up on her toes to kiss me. Taking firm hold of her wrists, I remove them from my hair and bind them behind her back, which makes her breasts jut out. “Undress and wait for me on the bed,” I growl.
She whimpers, but as soon as I release her, she does as I’ve instructed, removing her clothing piece by piece while I watch. We are each learning each other’s sexual tastes and fantasies. She likes it when I take charge. I make her wait, turning and heading into the closet where I pull off my T-shirt and toss it into a basket. When I emerge with my shorts unbuttoned, and riding low on my hips, Mia’s eyes grow wide. She’s lying on her side in the center of the bed, waiting for me, just as I knew she would be.
“Beautiful,” I whisper, laying down behind her and running my fingertip along her spine. When I reach the top of her ass, she shudders and pulls in a breath. “Shh,” I admonish. “I’m in charge, remember?”
She squirms on the bed, ready for more contact, but I won’t give it to her, not yet anyway.
“Tell me what you want,” I whisper, placing my lips at the base of her neck.
“You,” she breathes.
“You have to do better than that.”
“This,” she says, pushing her ass back to grind against my erect cock.
The lush curve of her soft ass pressing against me feels incredible. I’d be content to just lay here and let her work herself against me, but I know we’re both craving more. I lift her top leg and place it over mine, opening her to my liking.
“Are you wet for me already?” I ask.
We’d made out heavily in the Jeep-with her grinding in my lap-before we drove home. Putting her in her own seat and buckling her up was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I wanted to take her hard and fast, not giving a single fuck that we were in a parking lot for an amusement park. Luckily, common sense won out.
Mia moans and reaches between us to stroke me, touching the head of my cock to her opening so I can feel just how ready she is for me. The hot, pleasurable sensation cuts through me like a knife.
Goddamn.
I growl out a curse as she uses her own moisture to rub me from base to tip.
Planting a damp sucking kiss at the base of her neck, I press my hips forward, stimulating her clit with the head of my dick. “Are you ready for me?”
“Please,” she cries.
Easing myself in behind her, I give her everything she’s asked for.