by Heather Anne
“I would like that,” she replies, and I know she means it.
This woman is getting to me in ways she shouldn’t. She’s so easy-going and handles everything I throw at her with dignity, grace, and humor.
We get in line for the roller coaster and, because there aren’t that many people here there’s no wait. Everleigh’s excitement is adorable as she races for the first car.
“Come on Colt! We have to sit in the front!”
I laugh, following her to the front car. “You ready for this? The Lightning Bolt has the deepest drop of any roller coaster on the East coast, you know,” I taunt.
She rolls her eyes, buckles us in. The voice over the loud speaker tells us to put our hands up, the safety bar drops to our laps and we’re off.
The ride is thrilling and exhilarating. Every turn, every hill, every drop, has Everleigh squealing and screaming in delight, her hands in the air.
When the ride comes to a stop, she looks over at me grinning. “That was awesome!”
“One of the best I’ve been on,” I admit and it was. We exit the ride and start to walk around the park, hitting more rides along our way.
We go on the swings, the tilt-a-whirl, a ride that’s like a free-falling elevator, then a pirate ship that swings back and forth like a pendulum.
Getting off the pirate ship, Everleigh smiles.
“That’s always been one of my favorite rides,” she smiles.
“Why is that?”
“I love the way it makes my stomach drops whenever we swing back down,” she laughs.
“You like that feeling? I’m glad we haven’t eaten yet because I may have lost my dinner,” I laugh.
“I love that feeling. Is that weird?” A hint of self-consciousness comes through.
“Not at all. Me, I like that one over there,” I point over to what looks like similar to the pirate ship but it’s like a cage, and currently, the riders are being suspended upside down for a few seconds. “Being held upside for a little bit, the anticipation of being swung back down, the suspense of not knowing when the ride is going to move, that’s a feeling I like.”
“Well, you’re on your own for that one, mister,” she laughs. I look at my phone, noticing we have about a half hour before we have to get to the Ferris wheel for our dinner. We’ve been here almost two hours and time has flown. Minus the kiss, things have been going really well. Easy. Comfortable. No forced conversation, some light flirting, a little touching like a quick grip of hands when a ride starts.
Most women I’ve dated, I’ve either felt like I needed to impress the shit out of them or went into dates with only one thing in mind, the night ends in sex. With Everleigh, it’s completely different. I can be myself with zero judgment from her. She laughs at my jokes that are funny, teases me for the ones that are not. She shows a general interest in me as a person and not just someone who has the ability to whisk her away on an exotic adventure at the drop of the hat, nor does she look at me like she wants to jump my bones, not that I would complain.
She’s one of those rare people that doesn’t try. She doesn’t overly flirt, she doesn’t wear a ton of makeup, not that she needs it. She’s confident in who she is and that’s sexier than any skimpy dress could ever be.
We walk a little further, and I see a sign that tells us which attractions are in which direction, reminding me of something I read in the press packet I was sent with the passes.
“Let’s go this way, I want to show you something.” I tug at her arm and we continue to walk. If anyone will appreciate this, it’s Everleigh.
The minute we turn the corner, the old carousel comes into view and Everleigh gasps.
“Oh my gosh, Colton, it’s beautiful!” We get closer and start to walk around it. The roof of the carousel is a coral color with gold trimming. The floor is a planked wood painted white.
“This is an original carousel from 1887. It’s been restored, of course. Some of the wood is still original,” I say as we walk around, taking in the detail of the beautifully detailed, majestic horses.
“Are the horses wooden too?” she asks as we make our way to get onto the ride.
“All of the horses are wooden. This carousel has more original horses than any other still around from its time.”
“That’s amazing. This is so beautiful.” She glides her hand across the slick, painted horses as we walk by.
“What’s special about this particular carousel, is that it’s the only one where the lead horse is completely original, minus a paint job.”
“Lead horse?” I take her hand as we make our way through the horses, stopping in front of a light brown horse larger and more detailed than the rest.
“Each carousel back then had a lead horse; bigger, more majestic than any other. See this one?”
She examines the horse, the detail of painted swords on its saddle, the gold crowns on the spurs, the silver hat atop its head.
“This looks like it’s about to go into battle,” she says.
“Lead horses always paid homage to the military, sometimes even certain battles. This one right here, is not a battle horse, but one that the General would ride after winning a battle. Here, I’ll help you up.”
She puts her foot in the stirrup and swings her leg over to the other side, straddling the wooden, almost life-size piece of art. I snap a picture of her perched on top of the horse, noticing she’s almost as tall as me.
“Aren’t you going to ride one?”
“Nah, I’m good right here.” I stand beside her, draping my arm around her waist, the realization of how true my words are, hits me like a ton of bricks. I am good. Right next to her, barely a touch, on the receiving end of a beautiful smile and, man, I’m in trouble.
The need to keep my distance is warring with the need to be close to her. I’ve never meant anyone like her and now, getting to know her, I know I never will.
Off limits, dude. I tell myself throughout the entire ride. The traditional carousel music pipes through the original brass from the late 1800s and she smiles brighter when I tell her that bit of information. Part of my job is not only going to the places I visit, but to thoroughly research them and the hidden histories behind them.
When the ride comes to a complete stop, I extend my hand to help her down, which she doesn’t let go of and I don’t have it in me to pull away. With our fingers laced together, we make it to the Ferris wheel just in time for our reservation.
I give the attendant my name and we wait in a short line. “The way this works is we have three reservations go up at the same time, your car stops at the top and you have one hour to eat your meal. Tonight, you will receive an assortment of samples of our entire menu. I just need your drink order. We have a house white and red wine, champagne and an assortment of bottled beer, as well as your standard soft drinks,” he advises.
“Just water for me please,” Everleigh says and I agree. Drinking and rides don’t mix.
We make our way into the oversized blue car. We sit on either side of the white table that’s secured into the bottom of the car. The table is overloaded with covered dishes and next to the table is an ice bucket filled with two metal pitchers of water. The seats are bench and go in a semi-circle around the car.
Before the slow ride even stops at the top, we have sampled the boneless buffalo wings and fried pickles.
“This is so good,” she says, dipping a piece of pickle into a horseradish sauce.
The food is great, the assortment of dishes is impressive. We stop at the top, talking between bites of fresh grilled asparagus and filet mignon topped with crumbled blue cheese.
She leans back in her seat placing her hands on her stomach “I’m so full, I have a food baby.” We both laugh and I smile, taking the metal top off of the last plate of food.
“You can’t forget dessert,” I say, revealing two large cupcakes. One has a light pink frosting with a sugared carousel horse on top and the other has a light green frosting with a bright yellow sugared
lightning bolt on top.
“This one is yours,” I say passing her the one with the horse on it. Her smile is glorious. She closes her eyes, takes a bite of the treat and moans in delight.
“This is so good,” she mumbles. Watching her eat the cupcake is one of the most erotic things I have ever seen. She chews daintily, every so often her tongue comes out to lick a stray piece of pink frosting off her lips.
“Blue velvet with a cotton candy frosting, I would have never thought of that combination,” she says taking another bite of the fluffy cake.
“The frosting on mine is a lemon-lime but I can’t tell what the cake is.” I examine the bright red cake. “It’s almost like a citrus,” I shrug.
She reaches over the table handing me the last bit of her cupcake “Let’s switch”, she smiles and I oblige. Popping the dessert into my mouth, the flavor reminds me of her kisses from earlier. I moan not only at the memory, but at the deliciousness of the sweet morsel.
“Mmmm,” she says eating the last bit of the red and green cake. “Blood orange” she affirms, taking a napkin, wiping the corners of her mouth.
“Huh. I would never have thought,” I say.
“So, Mr. Travel Reviewer, what would rate this dining experience?”
“So far, a four”
“Why not a five?” she persists.
“Because the main attraction hasn’t started yet, Look.” I point as I slide over to the middle of the car facing out as the sun starts to set over the Riverwalk of Norfolk.
“Oh wow! I was so enthralled with the food I didn’t even notice the view.” She stares out at the water, with a pensive look on her face. “You can see all the naval carriers out in the distance.” The sky starts to change to a bright orange, casting a golden reflection on the water.
“It is pretty spectacular,” I agree, but I don’t see the view. I only have eyes for her.
She looks up at me, entrancing me with a light that I’ve never seen before in her whiskey colored eyes. All my rules and reasons for not taking her, go right out the window as I lean down, just inches from her face. Her breathing hitches. Leaning in at a slow pace, I rest my forehead against hers. Knowing what I want, damning the consequences of what happens when I take it.
Chapter Ten
EVERLEIGH
His breath fans across my face and I close my eyes in anticipation. Colton McDaniels is about to kiss me…again. The earlier preview of his kiss, has wetness pooling in between my thighs.
This back and forth dance we have been doing all night is coming to the finale, ending in explosive fireworks as his lips devour mine. This kiss is not cautious or gentle. It’s laced with the primal need emanating from the both of us.
His tongue his hot, probing and oh so demanding. He grips my waist turning me, lifting me to his lap so that I’m straddling him. I groan at the feeling of his hardness between my legs, his mouth moves to my neck, trailing his tongue from the base of my throat to that sensitive spot behind my ear.
“Colton,” I moan, grinding down on him. He lets out a curse, taking my mouth again in a searing kiss. I move my hands to his strong shoulders, grinding against his hardness again, swallowing his moan I move faster, needing relief.
“Please,” I whimper, not sure what exactly I’m begging for.
“I got you baby,” he whispers, placing soft kisses on my pulse points, my skin ripples with goosebumps as his hand trails from my neck, down my side, brushing the side of my breast, finally reaching its destination as he pops the button of my jeans open.
His touch is gentle as he snakes his hand underneath my panties, finding the place I need him the most. His kiss doesn’t let up as he explores the folds of my sex, I let out a strangled cry as he plunges two fingers into my slick channel.
“Fuck. So wet,” he groans and I whimper again as his mouth latches on to my neck, lightly sucking. My movements become erratic as I fuck his hand at a furious pace, oblivious to the world around me.
“Please,” I need release in a way that I never have before. “I’m so close,” I pant, my grip on his shoulders tightening as I grind down on him, the delicious pressure building inside me is almost too much to take.
“That’s it baby” her curls his fingers up, finding my g-spot, my walls constrict. “Give it to me, Everleigh”. He pushes on my clit with the pad of his thumb and colors start to explode in front of my eyes. As my orgasm hits, before I can even scream out in sheer pleasure, his mouth covers mine, taking in the sounds of my release as it soaks his fingers. Our movements start to slow, he pushes back and I realize he’s been watching me the entire time.
“That was so fucking hot,” he says, removing his hand from my pants, the evidence of what he did to me glistening on his fingers. Without hesitation, he takes his soaked fingers, brings them to his mouth, licking them and groaning as he laps every last drop from his hand.
“Delicious.” He places a chaste kiss to my lips, the taste of my arousal on his makes me almost have another orgasm.
His eyes open and it’s like the reality of what we just did, hits him.
“Shit, Everleigh. I didn’t mean for that to happen,” he douses out the flames of my desire for him.
“It’s fine,” I say, removing myself from his lap, buttoning my jeans and adjusting my shirt. He shifts away from me, fixing the big problem our tryst has caused in his pants.
My heart starts to beat fast in a panic. Colton just made me come. In public. On top of a fucking Ferris wheel.
Awkwardness fills the air and I’m grateful that our hour is up and the ride starts moving again.
Once we get to the ground, Colton’s demeanor is completely different than it was 200 feet in the air.
He helps me out of the car, releases my hand and pulls his phone from his pocket.
“Matt is over by the bumper boats. Is it ok if we go meet up with him and Kelsey?”
“Sure,” my voice is quiet. Colton starts walking a few steps ahead of me and instead of rushing to him, demanding he tell me what happened between us wasn’t a mistake, I keep my pace behind him, not ready for that truth.
As soon as we get to where his friend and his wife are, he visibly relaxes. I hang in the background as he gives Matt a bro hug and Kelsey a kiss on the cheek.
“It’s so good to see you.” Kelsey’s southern drawl is soothing.
“Matt, Kelsey this is Everleigh,” Colton motions for me to come closer.
“Nice to meet you both,” I say, observing the couple. Matt is almost as tall as Colton but leaner, with a boy next door look; clean shaven, light brown, short hair and warm brown eyes. Kelsey is the complete opposite – petite, fairly light with almost white blonde waist length hair and clear green eyes.
“Colton, I didn’t know you had a girlfriend!” Kelsey grabs my hands “She’s adorable” she beams at him. Colton shuffles his feet at a loss of word, not knowing how to explain.
Given his reaction to what happened on the Ferris wheel not that long ago, I speak up.
“Oh, I’m not,” I start to say, snapping Colton to attention.
“Everleigh is Sienna’s best friend.” My heart sinks, knowing that’s how he’s always going to view me. I’ll never be someone more than that to him, our earlier moments nothing but forgotten memories.
Sensing the awkwardness, Kelsey comes to my rescue, linking her arm with mine. “So, tell me about yourself, Everleigh.” We start walking towards the game lane making small talk. I learn that she’s a romance writer and I squeal when she tells me her pen name.
“No shit! I’m obsessed with your Never series!” I exclaim, realizing where the donation of books for the auction came from.
Kelsey and I chat about the books we love, gaining some insight into what inspires her, when she abruptly stops.
“Ooh look an old-fashioned tunnel of love!” I look to the right; the flashing neon hearts are like a stab to the gut.
“Matt remember that one we went on when we were in Kentucky?” She blushes and
I giving me the idea that Colton and I aren’t the only ones who had some fun on an amusement park ride.
“Let’s go.” He pulls his wife to him and looks to Colton “You guys coming?” Colton makes a choking noise.
“I need to use the restroom,” I lie. “Meet you over by the games?”
“Um sure” Kelsey, looking as disappointed as I feel, tosses me a shrug. I shake my head, not wanting to bring more attention to the visible tension between Colt and me.
I walk off ahead of Colton, not wanting him to see my unshed tears. I spot the restroom and make a run for it. Before I realize what’s happening I start to fall. I feel a snap in my foot as unbearable pain shoots from my foot up to my leg. Strong hands catch me before I hit the stone ground.
Colton looks down, his face pales. “Shit!” His loud curse cause Matt and Kelsey to come running from their place in line for the ride.
“What happened?” Matt asks as Colton Sets me down on a nearby picnic table.
“I tripped,” I sob, crying from the pain.
“Looks like a loose stone.” Matt bends down, picking up a piece of the path.
“I think it’s broken.” I cry.
“Don’t worry, we’ll get you taken care of.” Kelsey’s voice is soothing but she winces when she looks down at my foot.
“What?” I look down at my foot, my two last toes are pointing in the wrong direction and blood trickles down from what looks like a small stick protruding from the side. Everything starts to fade until I’m sucked into the blackness.
When I come to, there’s an ice pack on my foot, Kelsey is holding my hand and I’m surrounded by park officials. Colton is off to the side, his voice raised.
“This is ridiculous”’ he seethes. “None of these stones are secure!” he leans down picking up another one.
“We’re so sorry, Sir. We will make sure it’s taken care of, along with all of Ms. Mason’s medical bills.”
“You’d better, you don’t want this in my review, do you?” The look in his eyes is threatening.
His protectiveness shouldn’t give me the amount of hope it does.