Don't Wake Me if I'm Dreaming
Page 22
The water’s edge was abrupt, mostly large rocks and boulders and the sudden drop off in the water was visible. A distressed cobbled stone road wrapped around the town, leading to the docks. Fishermen occupied the rocks, and at least two-dozen boats lined the water with a handful porting.
A few other couples, possibly tourists, wandered around. An old man sat on a turned over bucket, smoking a cigarette and cleaning fish. He stared at the strawberry blonde bun I tasseled on my head before descending the stairs.
We found a large stone flat enough to sit on and Jack laid out a blanket. I made myself comfortable between his legs as he rested against a rock with his arms draping mine. It was slightly chilly, but the sunlight kept us comfortable.
“What a view,” Jack’s soft tone indicated he was relaxed.
“Don’t wake me if I’m dreaming. Have I thanked you yet?” I asked.
“A few times, but who’s counting. This definitely is at the top of my European explorations. Imagine if we had a couple weeks to explore the other islands. I suppose we’ll have an excuse to return.”
“I would be content to just stay. I’m sure we’d be able to find work and we could live in a little cottage on the water. That sounds so dreamy.” I stared out at the water, watching a boat slow into the port.
“A cottage huh. That doesn’t sound too bad. That would mean we’d have to live together and actually have sex.”
I smiled before responding. “I could handle that. You would willingly move away with me if the circumstances were accommodating?” I was curious how serious he was about us.
“I’m not sure how I’d juggle my career from here, but I don’t see any reason to fret over eventually living together. We’d actually see each other more often.”
“It might put a little strain on this dating thing we’re doing don’t you think?”
“Dating thing.” He laughed. “I believe we’ve surpassed dating by a mile. We’re already on our second vacation together half way across the world.”
“So what would you consider this now, if we’ve surpassed dating?”
“I think it’s safe to assume we’re a couple.”
“The man who has no time to date declares he’s in a relationship. I like it.” I rubbed his knees.
“When you put it like that.” He playfully shrugged. “I like how well things are going. I think we’re more than compatible and don’t see a reason or need to back out.”
“Hmm.”
“We’ll put it to the test tonight.”
“I have to laugh considering you were the one who wanted to wait.”
“No, I wanted to prove a point and I think my point’s been proven,” he said matter-of-fact.
“Is dry sex getting a little old?”
“It’s a first.”
“You must normally be the get the girl in the sack kind of guy. I think waiting has given us a chance to focus on more important things. And it probably kept you around by peaking your interest in me.”
“There’re things more important than sex?” he teased.
“What is it with men needing to penetrate to be happy?”
“It’s a legitimate physical need to sustain health and happiness.”
“So in order for us to be truly happy, you’ll need to penetrate me.”
Jack exploded with laughter. “When I do penetrate you, as you so eloquently put it, I plan to do so by making love to you, and yes, I think it will bring a new level of happiness and closeness into our relationship.”
“Here’s the thing Jack, the act of making love consists first and foremost of two people being in love.”
He was silent for a moment. “Well, like I said.”
I felt a sudden flutter in my tummy.
He leaned his face close to my ear. “I am falling in love with you, Sasha. I’ve been more than ready for this moment. I just didn’t realize it until you came into my life.”
I almost lost my breath. “Don’t say that unless you mean it.”
“I don’t use the words carelessly. I love you. I love everything about you, even your cute moments of insecurity.”
I twisted, looking over my shoulder into his eyes, seeing his transparent sincerity. “I love you, too.” I breathed, feeling the moment couldn’t be more perfect.
He laid me back into his arms and leaned over my shoulder looking into my eyes a moment before kissing my forehead.
“I find I am so much happier with you in my life. I actually have something to look forward to each day, and seeing your beautiful face makes me a happy man. You make me a very happy man.”
“I feel the same. I’m a happy lady that is.” My face was wearing an almost permanent smile.
I remained in his arms looking out over the water in silence for a little while watching the boats porting at the docks. His fingers lightly traced my neck.
“I can see why you travel so much. I can’t believe I’ve deprived myself of so much joy for so long,” I said, sitting up into a more comfortable position.
“This is only the beginning for us.” He reached for my bracelet on my wrist. “We need to load this up with charms. I want to take you to Venezuela with me when I climb Angel Falls. It’s a tremendously tall waterfall. I think it might even be the world’s tallest.”
“Yeah, you mentioned something about wanting to climb there with Vance when we first met.” My words withered into a gruff.
“Climbing isn’t as scary as it looks. It’s so worth the rush and there’s truly nothing comparably spectacular than a bird’s eye view from a monumental climb, but I suppose you’ll never know until you try.”
“You make it sound so amazing.”
“At least agree you’ll travel there with me. You will honestly fall in love with the country.”
“I see where this is going in baby steps. Next it will be for me to agree to see the waterfall, climb up the little rocks, and so on…” I laughed trying not to complain.
“I’d have you start with rock walls and climbing classes, but yes, I’ll talk you into it. Persuasion is a strength of mine.”
“South America, huh.”
“Brazil is amazing, too. We could party our way through Rio, dance in the streets, check out Carnival, visit the statue Christ the Redeemer, take a bike tour of the city, and maybe go hang-gliding.”
“You’re relentless. You really think I’m going to learn to ride a bike and hang-glide? You’re delusional if you think that’ll ever happen.” I was holding firm with that one.
He reached down and kissed my forehead, again. “We’ll work on your fear of heights, but before this vacation is over I’m teaching you to ride a bike.”
“Perfect. I’m so looking forward to that,” I said with the utmost possible sarcasm.
“Tell me about your dreams.”
“You…you want to talk about my dreams?” My body stiffened involuntarily. Why would he want to talk about my dreams, and what sort of distraction could I conjure to avoid the truth.
“Of course, I know you want to travel more, but you’ve never shared your desires and life ambitions.”
My body went lax a little, relieved, realizing Jack wasn’t referring to my slumbered events, and that he hadn’t noticed my burst of anxiety. “Well, I guess I haven’t given it much thought.” I pondered, remembering the long drives through the country with my mom when I was a child. “Don’t judge me harshly for impractical dreaming, but I’ve always wanted to buy a plantation and restore it. I know it sounds like a lot of work. I mean, I’m sure it would be.”
“That’s sounds like a hefty load, but not impractical. I have respect for the work that goes into historical preservation.”
“Yeah? There’s a vacant home outside of Charlotte I’ve looked at a few times. It looks structurally sound, but needs a load of work, especially to the property. It was an old cotton plantation that now has nothing but sticker brush— Jack, this moment is absolutely perfect except feeling a pain in my rear from sitting on stone.”
We headed down to the docks to see what the fishermen were hauling in. A man wheeled a cart with at least a dozen octopi and a couple others hauled in tuna, John Dory, and a few other types of fish.
While Jack was busy mingling and checking out the day’s catch, I stood on a boulder out of the men’s way, looking out to sea. The view would inspire an artist to paint; it was flawless. A sailboat in the distance was adjacent to the golden red casts from the sunset. The colors were so pure and rich, it was hard to see where the water ended and sky began. Oddly, the colors reminded me of flames, surfacing memories of Matt. I glanced at Jack with guilt clearing my thoughts, and then took a picture with my cellphone, but was disappointed it didn’t properly capture the hues. Jack joined me, wrapping his arm around me, watching as the last boat sailed toward the harbor.
“Are you ready to heave the stairs?” he asked.
“I can’t talk you into a donkey ride?”
“Nah, maybe another time.” He took my hand helping my down.
We were heading back up to town when I stopped midway up the monstrous steps for a breath. “One thing is for sure, there won’t be a need for the gym tomorrow.”
We were hardly hungry after eating an enormous lunch but decided to stop at a casual restaurant for takeout. Waiting for our food, we sorted through a wine collection in the tasting room. Jack paired a fine Greek wine with our feta and Greek olive salads and we headed back to the hotel room for the night.
Jack set the dinner table and I poured the wine.
“A real Greek Salad. I have to admit, I might get used to not cooking.” He took a bite.
“Dating me, that’ll never happen, sorry.” I picked at my salad, one piece at a time. I listened as Jack talked about tuna fishing, but my attention was elsewhere. I was picturing us finally making love, as he meaningfully called it.
“Where’d you go?” He waved a hand regaining my attention.
“I’m here. I was just thinking it would be a spectacular night for star gazing in the Jacuzzi.”
“Yeah, that sounds nice. I’ll make sure it’s heated up and ready. Excuse me.” He took a sip of wine, and then headed outside.
I finished my drink and most of my salad, cleared the table, and refilled our glasses.
“It’s heated, but I turned it up a few degrees,” he explained, walking in the kitchen looking at his cellphone. “It’s currently fifty-three degrees, the upper sixties the rest of the week.” He noticed I was cleaning. “Babe, let the housekeeper clean up in the morning.”
I smiled, setting the hand towel on the counter. “I feel spoiled.”
“As you should. I’m going to change,” he headed into the bedroom.
I took a personal moment to collect and prepare myself with the idea of sleeping with Jack, hoping I’d be good enough in bed to appeal his sexual appetite.
***
Jack headed out of the bathroom after collecting our towels. “I’ll wait outside,” he said, noticing my presence in the bedroom.
“I’ll be right out.”
I opened my suitcase and dug out my new bikini. I stared at it a minute unsure if I was brave enough to wear it then slid into the bathroom and tried it on.
“Are you kidding me?” I turned looking at my backside, “Oh, hell, no!” I looked like I should be bent over a muscle car in a Hustler magazine. I wrapped myself in a towel and snuck back into the room. Digging for another bikini, finding the top of one with much more fabric, I dug looking for the bottom.
“Is everything okay?” Jack asked, standing in the doorway.
“I’m perfect.” I gripped my towel.
“I’m going to grab our drinks.” He headed into the kitchen, returning a few seconds later with our glass. “What are you looking for?”
“My bikini, it’s buried in here somewhere. I packed way too much stuff.”
He noticed the red tie around my neck “Aren’t you wearing one?”
I looked at him anxiously. “It doesn’t fit, like at all.”
His brows furrowed into a mischievous grin as he approached me. He grabbed the towel and tugged it. “Whoa!” He laughed in surprise.
“That’s not funny.” I grabbed the towel from him and covered myself.
He swallowed hard. “Wow!” His hand reactively ran through his hair. “Wow.”
“Your candor is appalling at the moment!” I covered myself with the towel.
“Get that frown off your face.” Jack reached, grabbing the towel, tossing it on the floor.
I stared at him blankly and realized he was in awe of what was in front of him.
“You really like it?” I made a face wondering why.
“And everything under it!” His hand cupped over his mouth wiping away his grin. “Like is definitely an understatement. Turn around.”
I looked at him, shying my gaze away as I modestly turned around, biting my lip, until facing him again.
He reached his hand out taking mine, stepping closer to me until his lips reached my shoulder. “You have got to be the sexiest woman alive.”
“I look foolish, and you’re about to mate with this body. Of course you appreciate it.”
“You look gorgeous.” His lips reached my neck, giving me a small shiver. “And your body is impeccably beautiful.”
I placed my hand on his arm and then dropped it to his side as his lips traced my collarbone. My heart accelerated, nervously.
His hands slid down my arms, then over to my spine, tracing it lightly with a finger. Noticing my rapidly unsteady breath, he took my hand and walked us out onto the terrace.
It was secluded, no peering eyes, only an exceptional view of the stars.
I hurried into the water, seeking warmth. Jack sat on a bench along the far side and pulled me gently onto his lap. The water was a comfortable temperature, not too much steam.
“It’s a perfect night.” He looked at the heavens.
“Thank you.” I felt a sense of meaningful joy for all of Jack’s efforts to please me.
“For?” His smile was a little perplexed.
“Everything.” I briefly leaned my forehead against his face. “Thank you for being so kind to me.”
He looked skyward with satisfaction on his face. “I can’t believe how perfect the sky looks tonight. Every star is visible.” We both stared up, his arms wrapped around me. “It’s no wonder the ancient Greek civilization was so big into chartering stars.”
“They don’t normally look so immense back home. I learned a little about the constellations in school, I remember the names, not their placements except that one, Orion’s belt, and the two dippers.” I pointed.
“Look.” He pointed to the streak of light that lasted only a couple seconds, followed by another streak.
“Shh, we have to make a wish.” I closed my eyes trying to decide what more I could want for.
Jack kissed the side of my neck. “I’ve made my wish.”
“If you tell me it won’t come true.” I turned placing a finger over his lips.
He kissed it sweetly.
“If you had one single wish, just one, what would it be, but it can’t be the one you just made.”
“That was the one I wanted most.” He grinned.
“Well, choose another.”
“Okay.” He looked up at the sky that held his eyes in attendance. “I wish the feelings I have for you at this moment, right here, right now never end.”
My feet fidgeted a little in the water. “Well, your first wish must have been humongous because this one was rather huge.” I reached my hand to my head, feeling my bun. “Does my hair look funny pulled up like this?” I asked.
“Not at all,” he said with a short laugh. “I like your hair up. It shows off your neck.” He reached taking my hand, unfastened the clasp on my bracelet, and set it on the side of the tub.
“Thanks, I forgot I had it on.”
“You changed the subject rather dejectedly.”
I ran my finger over the water.
We were quiet for a few minutes relaxing in the water. His hold on me was comforting, my body relaxed against his.
I turned placing an arm around his neck, resting my forehead against his. “I love you.” I breathed lightly near his lips that reached kissing mine.
He was tender as his hand caressed my skin, leaning me back for a more loving kiss. I reached my other hand around his neck, pressing my body against his.
“I don’t want to wait another minute to have you,” he muttered. His finger lightly traced my spine. Finding the tie, he gave it a gentle tug, his fingers sought the other tie around my neck. His hands tenderly gripped my arms with the peak of his nose rubbing across my cheek affectionately. His lips occasionally brushed my skin until finding my mouth.
He untied my bottoms and pulled the fabric away letting it drift in the water.
I stood just enough for him to remove his shorts, then suddenly felt edgy. “I can’t do this out here knowing someone might hear us.”
“Let them be envious,” he said carefree.
I breathed, reacting to his touch, and squiggled from his arms laughing.
His face went from aroused to emasculated in an instant. “What just happened?” His tone was flat.
“Next County over ring a bell?” I whispered loudly.
His brow’s furrowed, then suddenly popped. “Gotcha.”
I gave a little push helping my body glide across the tub and then perched up against the side to see if I could hear anyone nearby. Jack moved across the water to my side and reached his arms around me, holding the ledge. “We’re alone.”
He kissed my cheek and I closed my eyes, calming the flurries within my nerves. I turned and wrapped my arms around him, both on our knees, balancing each other against the swaying motion of the water. He leaned back and pulled my legs around him. “Let’s try it again.”