Scandalous Scotsman - M.J. Fields Page 0,39
say I don’t worry about the lights being off or covers being pulled up.”
“And is sex more enjoyable with him?”
“You just stepped out of the friendship circle again,” I joke.
“Well?”
“Of course it is,” I answer truthfully.
“Then just imagine the orgasmic bliss your heart would feel if you allowed yourself to let it be vulnerable and loved by the right person.”
Tears prick my eyes as I truly think about what she’s just said. “That was absolutely beautiful.”
Except the whole orgasmic part.
And we shall let that pass.
Yes, we shall.
Aw, look at us finally agreeing on something.
“Did you just talk to yourself?”
“You know what?” I laugh. “I did, and I don’t even care to deny it.”
“I’m happy for you, Lizzie.”
“I’m happy for me, too.”
Water Fire
Ethan
“Will you tell me where we’re going, please?”
I look over at Elizabeth, whose hair is in a braid laying over one of her shoulders. She’s wearing a long, white, strapless dress with a cropped denim jacket, one white sandal and, of course, the boot. In her hand, she holds a single rose and looks at it like it’s gold. When she’s not pissed at me, for good reason, she is the epitome of femininity. And if this is the last time that she and I are together, I’m going to leave her knowing this is how she deserves to be treated.
This also mean basically tucking my tadger between my legs, but for good reason.
“No,” I answer, trying not to smile and failing because her excitement is like a contagious disease.
“Payback, Ethan James Stewart,” she warns softly.
“As long as it doesn’t include a knee to my genitalia, bring it on.”
She laughs, and that, too, is contagious. “Sorry.”
“Forgiven.” I pull her hand up and kiss the back of it.
After parking at one Citizens Plaza, I run around the front of the car and make sure to open her door, giving her my hand and helping her out.
Linking my fingers around hers, I glance down at her. “Ye ken where we are, right?”
She nods. “One of my favorite places. Dad and I used to go here at least once a season to watch the water fire. I haven’t been back since … well, you know.”
I squeeze her hand, and she squeezes mine back.
“This is the first time I’ve made it.”
“You’ve been here five years and never once?” She seems shocked.
“Working every minute I could to pay legal fees and … well, ye know.” I wink.
This time, she squeezes my hand, and I do it back.
She slows down and looks up. “You should definitely bring Kai here.”
“I plan to do a lot with her.”
She smiles. “I don’t often give advice on parenting, since I’m not one, but I did have the best father in the world, so I do have some.”
“I’m open to all the advice ye can give. I want Kai to always look fondly on our time even when after I’m gone.”
“Make traditions … lots of them. Make her measure every man against you. After all, you will always be her first love, so be the man you want her to marry someday.”
I scowl. “When she’s in her thirties.”
She laughs.
When we get to our first stop, she keeps walking, and I have to pull her hand to get her to stop.
She looks over her shoulder, smiling, and the setting sun behind her … makes my heart skip a beat.
“What?” she asks. “Are you okay?”
No.
“Yes.”
Fuck.
“You sure?”
“Come on, or we’ll miss the boat.”
“No,” she gasps.
“Are you afraid of boats?” I ask.
Smiling, she shakes her head from side to side.
“Then what is it?”
“I’ve always wanted to do this.”
I can’t help smiling. “Ye have no idea how happy that makes me.”
With the sun setting, we board the Venetian gondola, heading for what the agent on the phone told me was the most romantic way to experience the water fires.
After I found out the tickets that I purchased didn’t guarantee it would be just the two of us, I opted to upgrade so that it was just her and me, and of course opted for the wine and biscuits.
As we move along, the ceremonious lighting of the fires is underway, and the banks of the river are packed. I don’t much notice them though. I watch Elizabeth take it all in and am rewarded with her captivated, expressive face as she sits in front of me between my legs, leaning back, more relaxed than I am, for sure.
Our ride is only about thirty minutes and perfectly timed to get to our dinner reservations at a bar