by Kate Dunbar
“All the things. And don’t forget you promised me a ride.”
“Oh, you’ll get your ride, Sabra. You can count on that.” He grins and opens his door. “Let’s get to it then.”
He breaks the spell and pulls back, throwing a smile in my direction as he slides out of the truck and walks around to my door. I watch him closely as I climb down, expecting him to back up and give me room to walk past him. Instead, he moves tighter into my space, shuts the door, and pushes me against the hard metal, one hand pressing against the side of the truck on either side of me.
“Did you think I was going to start this day without a taste of you?” Trevor gazes at my mouth as he whispers the question, and I lick my bottom lip in anticipation. His eyes darken a bit before he leans in and presses his mouth to mine.
It’s such a sweet, light kiss. A perfect start to what is promising to be a perfect day. He shifts a step closer to me. Our chests meet and rub against each other with delicious friction, causing my body to automatically respond. Trevor slides his hands in my hair and his tongue in my mouth. He tangles us together and knots us in a way I’m not sure I ever want to be untied from.
He pulls away and leans his forehead to mine. “We should get going. I have plans for us.”
“I hope more of that is in the plans.” I tilt my head and slide my lips lightly back over his. “A girl could get used to lots of steamy kisses.”
I smile as he puts both hands determinedly on my biceps before taking a step away from me.
“We’re taking it slow. Remember, Sabra? I made a promise, and I intend to keep it.” He grabs my hand and pulls me toward the street. There’s a farmer’s market up ahead. The tops of white tents flap in the balmy breeze past an orange and white barricade.
“How long are you thinking of keeping that promise, Trevor?”
He steers me in the direction of the market. “Long enough for you to know I’m in it for you and you alone.”
He glances into my eyes before crossing the street and guiding me to the entrance of the farmer’s market. The aisles are packed with tons of people hopping from booth to booth, grabbing samples, smelling stunning flowers, and getting fresh eggs from local farms.
I let him lead me down the first aisle in a stunned silence as I try to process the fierceness in his proclamation and take in all the sights and sounds at the same time. It seems things have crossed over onto another level now, and I’m not sure what to do with that discovery. I catch him staring seriously at me when we slow and come to a stop.
“You okay?” He bends so he’s at my eye level. “You seem a little freaked out.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m not sure what to do with that information yet, and I’m trying to process it.”
“I notice you aren’t bolting and running for the hills.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me to a booth of strawberries the most vivid shade of red. “That must be a good sign, right?”
I don’t answer. Instead, I let his warmth and scent engulf me. I’ve never felt as safe as I do when I’m with Trevor. And he’s right. For the first time in my dating life, the idea of commitment is not making me want to run away screaming. What in the hell does that mean?
He reaches over my head and grabs a strawberry sample, but I keep my arms wrapped around his back and tilt my head so I can see the underside of his jaw and the light stubble there. He pops a bite of the juicy goodness into his mouth. His scruff calls out for me to reach up and smooth my hand over it, press my lips to the strong line, and trail them back to his lips. I don’t do that, though.
Trevor grabs another sample of strawberry and holds it out to me. I take a bite of the juicy goodness and can’t help the moan that rolls through me while I chew and swallow. He watches me watch him taking deep breaths.
“Not sure what it means, but I know I’m willing to ride it out.”
His eyes go wide, and a grin I know I want to see every single day splits his face before he steers me away from the strawberries, farther down the aisle, and deeper into the market. I would pay money—hand over every dollar I ever make for the rest of my life—to see his smile light up my world.
“Babe? I’ll take it. And you know.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me. “I’m always up for a good ride.”
“Good grief.” I swat him lightly on the arm. “You did promise me the ride of my life.”
“That I did.” He grins at me again and turns me to the stall right in front of us. “And we can discuss the ride later. First, we should eat something to keep our strength up.”
I can’t even throw a barb back at him because I’m too busy drooling over what I’m seeing. A French bakery in the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market, complete with the most scrumptious looking croissants and mouthwatering smells, beckons for me to come closer.
Trevor places his hands on my shoulders, rubs his thumbs up and down my neck, and winks at me when I peek over my shoulder at him. “I know what my girl likes.”
I nod and look back at the sweet, tempting treats in front of me while we get in line and wait our turn. Almond and chocolate croissants. Muffins of every imaginable flavor. Bear claws and eclairs. All of it calls my name as I look through the Plexiglas.
“Do you know what you want?” Trevor whispers in my ear.
“I can only choose one?” I go over each delectable item sitting in front of me.
“No, Say. You can have it all.” He pulls my back to his front and kisses me on the head. “You only need to say the words, and it’s all yours.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“I can’t believe we bought all this food.” I look around at the bounty of fruit, bread, and cheese spread out on the blanket. A blanket Trevor remembered to bring in the truck, along with a cooler holding chilled wine—a crisp Pinot Grigio, my favorite.
“How often do we get to do this?” Trevor grabs my hand and tugs me into his lap, settling me between his legs, my back to his front. He picks up one of the largest strawberries I’ve ever seen, holds it to my lips, and watches me take a bite out of it. A low hum rumbles out of him as he turns his head to look at me fully before he finishes the strawberry off. His eyes never leave mine as he chews and swallows.
We’re sitting high up in Palisades Park overlooking the beach and Santa Monica Pier. Trevor walked us down the trail in the park carrying everything while I followed, staring at his bulging biceps. I offered to help carry something, but he frowned and rolled his eyes at me. So, I decided I would do what he wanted and stare at him and all his manliness. Obviously.
The man has serious arm porn, and I want to take a bite out of him. I run my hand down his leg and over his calf muscle, feeling the rumble of his voice vibrate through my body.
It’s peaceful here. The park is busy—especially since it’s a Saturday. So many people are out walking their dogs or rollerblading through the park, and there’s no real privacy here. Trevor found a spot away from the bulk of people. We’re sort of hidden by a tree, but not. No one is paying attention to us, though. I sit and watch them all scurry past, oblivious to anything else around them. Earphones in their ears, dogs on their leashes, and eyes focused on wherever they’re headed. It must be nice not to worry about looking over your shoulder all the time.
Trevor shakes me out of my thoughts when he hands me a piece of crusty bread smeared with goat cheese and points at the beach and the water beyond. “See the waves breaking against the sand?” He wraps an arm around my chest and buries his face in my hair. “Do you see how steady and sure those waves come?”
“Yes.” I turn my cheek to rest on his chest and watch the waves crash again and again with him. “I could sit at the beach, smell the salt in the air, and watch the water for hours.”
“We can.” He shifts and snags a bite of my bread and cheese. I watch his Adam’s apple bob when he swallows. “We can sit for hours doing that because the waves are reliable. They’re steady and strong.”
I try to turn so I can see his face, but he holds me
in place against his chest and offers me a sip of my wine.
“Those waves have the power to move things. Reshape the earth. Even break down walls.” His voice trails off, and his hand glides down to rest on my thigh.
I turn, placing both my legs over one of his, and take a long look at him. I’m not straddling him, but it would only take one short movement to have me there. “Something on your mind, Trev?” I take another sip of my wine.
Trevor grabs my glass, pulling it out of my hand. He sets the wine to the side and grips my waist. His fingers bite into my sides as his right thumb moves soothingly. “I have things I want to say to you, Sabra.”
He tugs me closer to him. I’m inches away from our bodies lining up perfectly. My hands go to his shoulders to support me perching on his lap. “Words that have been on the tip of my tongue for longer than I can remember.”
“Are you sure it’s safe to go into those waters, Trevor?” I squeeze his shoulders and lay my head against his chest.
“Babe.” He moves his hands to my cheeks, cupping my face and tilting it back to him. “Is it ever safe to go into the water? There’s always risk involved.”
“Yes, but,” I try to interrupt him, but he continues as if I never uttered a sound.
“The waters are never one hundred percent safe, Sabra.” He shifts me, moving my legs on either side of his so that I’m straddling him now.
My core lines up perfectly with his, feeling every ridge and bulge. I wonder at the fullness of him against me. His hands grip my hips again, sending sparks shooting through me with each movement and word he says.
“You always run the risk of a wave knocking you over.” His nose and lips trail down my jaw and neck. Shivers fly down my arms and back and pleasure pools in all the right places.
“You can get swept away by the undertow and lose yourself to the push and pull of the currents. Or something beneath the waves can touch and grab you, affect you in some way, catch you off guard, or hurt you when you least expect it.”
One hand slides up my back, tunnels into my hair, and gathers it off my shoulders, giving him more access to my neck. Trevor kisses down to the hollow at my throat and inhales deeply.
“The water and the waves, even the things within the water, have the power to change our course. To change us.” He lifts his head and his eyes bore into mine. “You are like the waves, Sabra.”
I still at his words. “What?”
“You are like the waves. What I feel for you, the seductive charm you have … it’s powerful.” He leans in and brushes a kiss against my lips before falling backward onto the blanket, taking me with him. I lie on top of him with my knees on either side of his hips. “And I want to continue to lose myself in it. To be swept away from the push and pull of it all. To be affected by it. By you.”
He seems to peer into my soul, waiting patiently for me to process it all while he brushes my hair back. “Sabra, lose yourself with me. Ride the waves with me.” He pulls my head down to lie on his chest and rests his other hand on my backside, stroking softly. “I know there are scary unknowns out there but trust me to hold your hand through the ups and downs. Through it all.”
I press my hands on his chest to push up, causing other parts to move in the most delectable ways, and I stare back at him, considering his words. Can I let go like he’s asking me to and ride the waves? Do I have it in me to trust someone with my emotions like that? With all of me? What will happen if I allow the waves to crash over me and I end up broken and bruised? What will happen to me if I don’t take the risk?
I lean down and brush my nose against his, close my eyes, and whisper one little word in a rush of air.
“Yes.”
“Yes?” Trevor’s entire body tightens with his hands squeezing against my back. “You’re sure about this? Be sure about this, Say.”
“I’m sure about this.” I nod my head and look at him. “But let’s still take it slow, okay? One step at a time? I won’t lie to you. The water, and the things in it, still frighten me. But I’m willing to take the risk today, and a little more each day it seems, with you by my side.”
The smile that splits across Trevor’s face is one I’ve never seen before. I thought I knew every expression of his already, but this smile with pure joy radiating out his eyes is unlike anything I’ve ever known from him. It rivals the sun and the rays reflecting off the water below us, and I want to be the only person who puts it there until the end of time.
“I’ve waited a long time to hear those words come out of your pretty, little mouth, babe.” His hands slide around and up my sides stopping under the swell of my breasts. “You may have made me the happiest man on earth. At least the happiest man in Santa Monica.” He teases me as his thumbs brush against my curves.
I twist out of his grasp and laugh, lying with my head on his chest. “Slow, remember Trevor?”
One of his hands palms my right cheek and squeezes. “Slow, Sabra. I promise. You’re safe with me.”
I drop a light kiss on his lips and look deep into his eyes. “Thank you for always trying to understand and for being patient with me. I’m not good with this, and I know I must frustrate you sometimes. But I’m trying. I promise to keep my heart open to you.”
“You don’t owe me any thanks, Sabra. This? What we have right now?” He kisses me on the forehead and rolls me over so he’s looking down on me. “This is easy. Caring for you. Wanting you. It’s deep in me.” He touches his hand to his chest right above his heart, leans down, and starts a slow, bone-melting kiss. My body begins to revolt and scream fast, but then he pulls back. “It’s easy.”
“Are you ready for part two of our date?” Trevor wraps up our leftovers and packs them in the cooler he brought. We’ve spent the past hour finishing off the wine, nibbling on everything we bought at the market, and making out under this tree. It’s now one of my favorite spots in all the world.
My saying yes to Trevor seems to have unleashed a side of him he hadn’t allowed me to see yet. He’s always been kind, loving, and gentle, but now I see a reverence in his eyes when he gazes into mine and an intimacy in his touch and kiss. The embers that had been lying low in me—screaming to be allowed to burn brightly—are awake and growing with each caress and slow, lingering kiss he places on me. Desire rolls between us and licks its way across my skin as he fans it into flame more and more.
I stand and grab the blanket off the ground to fold it in a nice, neat square, grinning. “Part two? There’s more?”
“You didn’t think we’d come all this way and only have a picnic, did you?” he asks with one eyebrow cocked at me.
“I figure your speech wouldn’t have gone over the same way without the waves actually crashing.”
“All right, smartass.” He laughs and smacks my bottom before picking up the cooler and grabbing my hand. “Just for that, I’m not going to go easy on you at the pier. You’re going to have to win all on your own.” Trevor leads me to his truck, and we toss everything inside.
“Oh, yeah?” I stop and look at him with my hands on my hips. “Were you planning on letting me win? Is that the only way you think I can kick your butt?” I try to force the smile off my face and glare fiercely in his direction.
“Is the expression on your face supposed to intimidate or scare me?” He pulls me into his arms.
I resist him by pushing against his chest, crying out, “Yes, you should be terrified of me. I’m going to kick your ass.”
“Huh. You should keep working on that,” he mutters against my cheek. He slides his lips over mine and makes me want to climb him like my new favorite tree. Good lord, I’m in so much trouble with this man.
“Sabra?” Trevor nuzzles my neck and sends shivers through me as I loop my fingers through his belt buckles and hold on with all my might.
“Yes?” I gasp.
“Last one to the Ferris wheel buys the cotton candy.” He pushes away from me and runs toward the pier. His laughter flies back to me on the wind as I sha
ke off my kissing stupor and take off after him.
“Trevor, wait!” I yell at his back. “Ow! Hold on!” I slow and grasp my ankle.
“Sabra, are you okay?” Trevor jogs back to me and makes me lean my weight on him. We’re halfway down the pier. I can see the Ferris wheel looming a short distance away, winking at me as it churns around steady and strong.
“I think so. I must have tweaked it when I was running.” I glance at him from under my eyelashes. “I’m sure it’s no big deal. Let’s keep going.”
“No way. I’m not going to race you now.” He looks at me like I’m crazy, and I grimace at him.
“But I’m ruining your plan. What about the Ferris Wheel?” I gesture to the iconic location across the pier.
He turns his back to me. “You’re not ruining anything. Jump on.”
“What?” I laugh and shove a hand against his back. “No way.”
“You heard me.” He looks over his shoulder and gives me a no-nonsense look. “Jump on before I yank you over my shoulder like last time.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” I gawk at him open-mouthed.
“I would,” he says and turns around. “I’d be perfectly happy to have that fine rump near my mouth again.”
“No,” I yell, laughing uncontrollably. “Fine. I’ll ride on your back.” I sigh before climbing on board.
“Perfect.” He smirks. “We can discuss all the other parts of me you can ride later.” Trevor takes off down the pier with a slight bounce in his step toward our destination.
“I should have seen that one coming,” I groan into his shoulder blades.
“That’s what she said,” he crows and laughs all the way down the path.
When we’re about 100 feet from the entrance, I hop off his back and take off to the ticket booth yelling, “Sucker!”
“You cheat!” Trevor hollers after me. It doesn’t take long before he catches me, wraps his arms around my waist, and lifts me up, spinning me around in the air. “You’re going to pay for that.”