Tyler and Paige placed their order.
“I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse,” Tyler claimed.
Paige giggled. “Good thing we ordered the meat lovers pizza. Do you want a large instead of a medium?”
Tyler shook his head as the server brought their drinks. She took a few gulps of the ice-cold cola. It was quite refreshing.
While they waited for their food, Tyler told Paige about the team he coached. The past two seasons had been victorious, but this year was a rebuilding year. A lot of the players had graduated, which meant the underclassmen would need time to work on their teambuilding skills. Once the pizza was delivered, they devoured it. Apparently, they both had worked up a huge appetite. The pizza was indeed delicious. Both Tyler and Paige stuffed themselves, Paige not realizing how much they were eating during their conversation.
* * * *
“Have you ever been to Montauk before?” Tyler asked when they left the small restaurant.
“Actually, this is my first time.”
“Well, Miss Mattheson, let me be your tour guide.”
Tyler and Paige walked all over town. They stopped in the various shops looking at clothes, T-shirts, and the surf shops. Paige admired a charm bracelet in one of the boutiques.
“That’s nice. Why don’t you try it on?” Tyler asked.
“It is very pretty, but I don’t really need it.” Paige put the bracelet down. She had already spent some money in New London before she’d got to Montauk. She’d never been a big shopper. She preferred to save her money or spend it on books.
They walked out of the store and Tyler called a cab. “I have one more place I want to show you, but we can’t walk there. The cab will be here in a few minutes. Do you mind waiting here in case it comes earlier? I don’t want us to miss it. I’m going to run back in the store real quick and use their restroom before our next destination.”
Paige nodded and sat on the bench near the intersection. He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips then dashed back to the store. He didn’t really need to go to the restroom. He needed an excuse to get back to the store and buy her that charm bracelet.
The cashier smiled at him when he walked up to the counter with the bracelet in hand. The lady was probably in her mid-fifties. “Sneaky man,” she snickered. “But a loving one.”
Tyler smiled, and his heart skipped a beat at the word loving as he thought about the look on Paige’s face when she would open the gift. His feelings couldn’t be anything more than like. He knew he really liked her, but it wouldn’t be any more. It couldn’t be. They were enjoying each other’s company immensely. This was just a weekend romance, wasn’t it? Besides, it was much too early. He had just met her.
A few minutes later, Tyler was almost at the intersection when the cab pulled up. Paige stood up and turned around to look for Tyler. He knew the moment she spotted him. Her face lit up with such a beautiful smile, he felt the warmth radiate through his heart.
“Ready?”
“I’m ready for our next adventure,” Paige stated with confidence.
“Montauk Point Lighthouse,” Tyler instructed the driver.
He put his arm around Paige and pulled her close. Paige looked at him and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for making me forget all the negative things and helping me remember all the positive ones.”
“I didn’t do anything, Paige. It was in you the whole time.”
“No, Tyler, you did. You dragged it all out of me and pushed the other stuff out of the way.”
He kissed her head, sealing the sweet moment, and they settled into the worn leather seat of the cab. With Paige nestled closely to his side, he looked out of the window, enjoying the views they passed. I don’t think I could ever get enough of this place—or of Paige.
They arrived at the lighthouse. Tyler paid for their tickets, and they trekked up the small hill.
Paige stopped and looked up once they reached the top of the hill. “It’s beautiful,” Paige murmured.
“Wait until we climb to the top, the view is outrageous.”
Tyler followed Paige into the building, walking straight through the museum, which used to be the keeper’s house. They began climbing the one hundred and thirty-seven steps to the top.
“It’s already a fabulous view,” Tyler said, friskily pinching Paige’s bottom.
“Tyler, stop. You’re going to make me trip and fall.” She giggled.
“You wouldn’t fall. I would be right here to catch you,” he said as they approached a little landing area with a beautiful old window. Paige stopped, turned around and kissed him hard. He immediately opened for her, wanting to taste her. The kiss was sensual and wet.
“What was that for?” he whispered.
“The striking view,” she answered with a wink. “At least the one I’m looking at right now.”
Tyler pointed to the window. Paige turned to the actual view, which was already amazing.
“All right beautiful, let’s keep going so I can bore you with random facts about this place.” They continued up the stairs while Tyler told Paige about the lighthouse.
“It was authorized under George Washington and constructed in 1796. It was the first lighthouse in the state of New York. It is the fourth oldest active lighthouse in the U.S.”
“You are just a wealth of knowledge, aren’t you?”
“I like history too,” he stated with a smile.
They reached the top, and Paige peered out of the windows.
“Wow! It’s incredible,” she exclaimed.
Tyler pulled her hand, and they stepped out onto a very tiny balcony. He watched the wind blow her hair softly as she took in the sight before her.
“It looks like the ocean goes on as far as the eye can see. I can imagine sailors knowing their destination was near when they saw the flashing beacon of this lighthouse. Mine is nearby as well, even though I’m not certain what it is exactly. I can feel it. I couldn’t tell you the last time I felt this relaxed and alive. I am finally starting to feel like myself again. I don’t feel like I’m drowning anymore,” she explained while taking in the breathtaking view.
Tyler put his arms around her and held her close, his chest to her back. He closed his eyes and kissed the back of her head. He experienced a sense of relief and wondered how long she’d felt like she was drowning. Was it just the writer’s block? Was it her ex-fiancé? Or had something else been wearing her down for quite some time?
She turned in his arms and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for bringing me here. It is perfect. I needed to see this—all of this immaculate beauty,” she said, stroking the side of his face.
“You’re very welcome. You know, when I first came here, I went over to that area.” Tyler pointed to the water’s edge, which was full of rocks. “I sat there for a few hours and listened to the waves crashing while I tossed stones into the water. I thought about my life—my achievements, the things I enjoy doing and the occasions I wish I would have made different choices. When my thoughts frustrated me, I would throw a bigger rock into the water.” He laughed at himself, recalling the one that was nearly impossible for him to budge, let alone pick up. “Okay, some of them definitely tried my strength.”
Paige smile up at him, and the sparkle in her eyes made his heart skip a beat.
“But every choice I ever made brought me here with you, right in this moment.” He put his finger under her chin and tipped her head up. Her eyes fluttered shut as Tyler gently touched his lips to hers. And no matter how long this lasts, we are meant to share this time together.
Chapter Seven
On the way back to the condo, Paige thought about the feelings they’d each expressed at the lighthouse.
As soon as Paige walked through the door, she stripped off her clothes. The need to be naked felt liberating, just like when she opened up about her feelings. It felt right. She didn’t quite understand how Tyler could make her feel so free and alive again—or maybe it was the first time in a long time she didn’t f
eel stressed. The more she thought about it, the more she realized she had never felt liberated before. She’d always felt like she had been walking on eggshells with her ex. Maybe it was the fact that Tyler would be leaving tomorrow or because he was so easy to talk to, so why not be herself and stick to the promise she’d made? She had nothing to lose.
Paige was standing in the living room, naked, her beach clothes tossed in a pile on the tiled floor. She turned around to see what Tyler was doing since she hadn’t heard any movement. He was standing by the door with dark, wide eyes and a sexy grin on his face. Paige returned the smile and crooked her finger, beckoning him.
He rushed to her, and she jumped into his arms, wrapping her naked body around him. She kissed him with feverish passion and slowly moved her body up and down his like she was inching up a tree. Tyler groaned.
Tyler walked them to his room to grab a condom then into the bathroom. While turning on the shower, he kept her in his arms and the steam slowly began to fill the room. He stepped inside with her. She slid down his body. Paige grabbed the waistband of his board shorts and pulled them down. His cock sprang free, and she dropped to her knees. Tyler braced himself on the walls of the shower in anticipation of what was about to happen. She looked up at him, gazing into his eyes. She darted her tongue out of her mouth, and she licked her lips to show her hunger. She hoped Tyler was more than happy to feed her.
Paige took his rock-hard cock into her mouth in one quick swoop, all the way back to her throat.
Tyler hissed. “Holy fuck!”
He was convinced this woman’s mouth was blessed by some sex god. She repeatedly licked and sucked him. One of her hands was squeezing his ass. And the other… “Fuck,” he growled when Paige caressed his balls.
Sucking sounds echoed throughout the bathroom. Water rushing over their shoulders, Tyler watched Paige work her magic on him. She inched him closer to the back wall, pinning him against it. Her other hand was now splayed on his abs, feeling every crevice of his muscles. The way she touched him—took control of him—made him weak in the knees. Most men had this natural instinct to always be strong, but with Paige, Tyler was more than ready to explore his weaknesses. She was becoming his source of delicacy, and he wanted to indulge in every way.
“I’m going to come, beautiful,” Tyler said.
Paige gave him one more suck. She wrapped her hand around his length and fondled him. A guttural growl from way down deep escaped Tyler. When his juices jetted out, she aimed it all over her tits. It was a scene straight out of a porn movie, and he’d just become her number one fan. He was completely captivated by her.
He pulled her up off her knees, kissing her with so much intensity he felt like an animal ready to mate. He wanted more. He couldn’t get enough of her. He was leaving tomorrow to travel back to his home on the other side of the planet. He was going to get as much of Paige Mattheson as he could.
His tongue moved around her mouth, tasting her and remnants of his own seed. He leaned down and nibbled her breast. He shifted her, pinning her against the tiled wall.
“Fuck me, Tyler,” she panted.
His cock grew hard again at her command. He grabbed the condom and rolled it on. He lifted her, and she instinctively wrapped her body around him. His cock filled her so damn perfectly that his breath hitched.
“Damn, Paige. You feel so fucking incredible.”
He began to thrust in and out of her. Her clit rubbed against his pelvis. He was beginning to feel her sensitive muscles tighten around him and was in awe at how unbelievable she felt.
Paige kissed his neck and sucked on his earlobe. She hit that sensitive spot right behind his ear, and he swore he saw stars.
“God, Tyler. I love the way you feel inside me.” Her breath was hot against his ear.
With her body around his, she pulled herself up using his shoulders then down to move faster, deeper, working with the rhythm of his thrusts. She moaned. He felt her pussy muscles clenching him through her orgasm. Watching her, feeling her and listening to her in the throes of passion triggered his own waves of pleasure.
He kept her pinned against the wall in a tight embrace. They fit perfectly. At that moment, Tyler knew for sure his heart was lost to her. He had completely fallen for her. It had started the moment he’d first seen her. His head dropped against her shoulder while he tried to contain his emotions along with slowing his racing heart and erratic breaths. He had finally met his match. And tomorrow, he would have to walk away from her. His heart ached, and he squeezed his eyes shut, fighting back the sadness that was erupting. I still have her for one more night. And tonight, he would show her how much he cared about her and make sure she knew how special she was, because actions spoke louder than words.
Tyler set her down then threw away the condom. When he came back into the shower, he grabbed the shampoo from Paige’s hand and began shampooing her hair. With his hands gently massaging her head, she closed her eyes and let him take over. After he washed her hair, he conditioned it and cleaned her body from head to toe. He was thankful she didn’t protest or say she could handle showering on her own. That was obvious. He knew she was a strong, independent, successful woman—even with heartache and some bumps in the road. He wanted to take care of her, protect her—love her.
They didn’t speak any words. Paige just watched him—the way he moved, the way he took his time with her. Thoughts were running rapidly in her mind.
Why couldn’t we have met before? Why do we have to live so far away from each other? Why does this weekend have to end? But no matter how many questions Paige asked herself, there didn’t seem to be any pleasing answers. One thing was certain, she would never forget this weekend—or Tyler.
Tyler quickly washed himself. He turned off the shower and stepped out to dry himself off. He wrapped a soft, fluffy towel around her and dried her with care.
Still remaining silent, he took her hand in his and led her to bed. They lay down, and he pulled her close. Paige rested her head on his chest and settled her leg over his hip. He was playing with her wet hair.
Paige sighed and traced imaginary circles on his chest. “Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher?”
“I did—and a coach too. I had some great teachers growing up. They had a huge impact on my life. I wanted to do the same for others.” Tyler sighed and Paige looked up at him.
She could tell his mind had drifted elsewhere.
“What’s wrong, Tyler? You are thinking about something else right now, aren’t you?”
He tightened his arms around her and held her. “Not everyone thinks what I do is great.”
“What do you mean? I think teachers are some of the most significant people in the world. They are educating kids and influencing the future.”
He didn’t say anything at first, but she heard him sigh. She looked up at him and saw a mix of emotions on his face and his eyes focused on the ceiling. Paige sensed there was a story that went along with his statement. She wanted to soothe his heart, just as he soothed hers. She reached for his hand and laced her fingers with his, giving him a gentle, reassuring squeeze. He closed his eyes and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
“I was in love once. Her name was Carly. We dated throughout college. She was pre-med. Her whole family was full of very prestigious doctors. I thought we had something special. I even started saving money for an engagement ring. Then one evening the doorbell to my apartment rang. It was Carly and her grandfather. They had come together for Carly to break up with me. Her grandfather said, ‘no granddaughter of mine will date a teacher’. It wasn’t a prestigious career in their eyes—and that was it. Haven’t seen her or spoken to her since. I tried calling and stopping by her place, nothing. Years put into a relationship—gone.”
Paige leaned up and kissed his lips. She knew how he felt in some ways. Justin had always pushed her career aside to make sure his stayed in the spotlight. Even though he’d loved schmoozing clients, he’d been constantly stressed out about
getting the next big ticket account. It had always been about the fame and dollar signs to him.
“I never understood why people judge other people’s work. If you love what you are doing and making an honest living, why does it matter? Our world needs more people who are passionate about what they do instead of people hating their jobs and being miserable because of it.” She settled her chin on his chest and looked into his beautiful blue eyes. “I bet you’re amazing in the classroom.”
Tyler cocked an eyebrow. “Just in the classroom?” he teased.
She knew he was trying to lighten up the mood, but it was a serious conversation. Paige would always stand by what she said. That was what passionate people did, no matter what happened or who challenged them.
She hadn’t always been a bestselling author. She’d written for a long time for little to no money before she made it. She kept going because she loved it.
She playfully smacked him. “You know what I mean. You are passionate about it. I can see it in your eyes when you talk about teaching. That’s what makes you an amazing teacher.”
Tyler kissed her forehead. “Thank you. I really do love it. It seems like my students enjoy my classes too.”
“I think it’s wonderful you love what you are doing.”
“I know you love writing too. Right?”
“Yes. I mean…I did. I don’t know.” She felt like she needed space all of a sudden. Paige sat up on the bed, her legs hanging off the side.
Tyler moved closer to her, showering her back with sweet, gentle kisses. “Do what you love, Paige, but it isn’t always going to be easy. Lord knows teaching isn’t. Some years go by without any major issues, but last school year was a tough one. One student died in a car crash. One got pregnant at sixteen years old. Another was having serious issues at home. I am constantly telling all of my students that my office door is always open for them. I always try my best to set an example for them inside the classroom, as well as out. Some of the kids really need a positive role model in their lives.”
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