back of the truck watching the sky and talking.
“I thought most women like to go out to eat, or go to some jazzy club or something.”
She looked at him, “I’m not most women. I like the simple things. A good home cooked meal, great conversation, and a relaxed atmosphere goes a long way with me.”
“I see that,” he smiled. “You’re a good cook too. Those Panini sandwiches you brought yesterday were delicious.”
“Thanks. I do like to cook when I can. You’re pretty good yourself,” she nudged his shoulder with her shoulder. “When did you find time to learn to cook?”
He laughed. “I wasn’t always military,” he took her hand in his and intertwined their fingers. “I learned young. I learned some more from friends and the rest I just picked up on my own. If you know how to follow directions you can learn how to cook anything.”
“True,” she nodded. “My mother taught all of us; even the boys. She said there was no way her boys were going to grow up not knowing how to cook and feeling obligated to marry the first woman who came along just because she could. She made sure we all learned enough to prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner and deserts. Thomas is probably the better dinner cook. I have lunch down to a science. Gavin’s more of your breakfast guy, and Eve beats all of us. That woman could have been a chef. I don’t think there’s anything she can’t cook or bake.”
“The two of you are close.”
“Yes we are. We’re the only girls so I guess maybe we latched on to each other for that reason, but maybe it was more than that. She’s so easy to love. There’s no malice in her anywhere and that innocence is just something that draws everybody to her.”
“I don’t have any siblings,” he confided in her. “I always wondered what it would be like if I did.”
“Hmm,” she smiled. “Pillow fights. Building snow castles, arguing over who gets the bathroom first in the morning,” she laughed. “Knowing no matter what happens in the world you have good people who have your back…and family dinners that were a riot to be at.” She laughed. “Although not all families are that lucky. Some siblings aren’t ever going to get along. Having the same blood doesn’t equate to liking or loving each other.”
“Don’t I know it,” he said in a tone that told her he was speaking from experience.
“Tell me about your family, Shane.”
“I’d rather hear more about yours and those pillow fights,” he swiftly changed the subject and started tickling her. She squirmed and hooted with laughter. She tried to get away from his roaming hands. He was relentless in his fun loving attack.
“Stop, stop,” she cried with laughter. “Don’t change the subject,” she said when he finally stopped tickling her long enough for her to catch her breath.
“But I’d much rather do this,” he leaned down to kiss her. One kiss took them from zero to one thousand in less than thirty seconds. He removed her blouse, then her bra before unbuttoning her pants. And what pleased him most was that she hadn’t stopped him, that she hadn’t pushed his hand away from her body. He had wanted to touch her for so long, and now he was going to touch his fill.
“Are you going to continue to tease me all night, Shane?” Alyssa’s voice started off with a playful teasing of her own until Shane’s fingers traced a feather line down her stomach, causing her to moan with satisfaction. “Oh yes, please don’t stop there,” she moaned as his hands eased lower, playing with her navel before disappearing between her legs.
He was drawing it out and torturing her. She wanted him so much she thought she might go mad waiting for the moment his touch seemed to promise awaited her. Instead of giving her what she craved he just kept kissing her, stroking her gently with his fingers against her. “Please,” she clutched his hand, trying to get him to take her all the way.
“Uh, uh,” he shook his head, removed his fingers from where they played and then gathered her wrists into his big hands before pinning them above her head with one hand. She saw the twinkle in his eyes; that glint of sheer, unadulterated appreciation. He liked what he saw and she could see that.
He ran his free hand over her breast letting his index finger circle the delicate skin. “You’re perfect everywhere.”