by Tia Siren
"Nice place," I said when she opened the door up.
She seemed to make a point of trying to hide the inside of it from my view as she stepped outside. She all but blocked it off from me.
"Yeah, right," she said dismissively, looking away as she did. I could tell that she was embarrassed by it. Like me, she probably wondered what the hell she was doing living there. As such, I chose to drop the subject.
"So, excited about today?” I asked. “Looking forward to making some new memories?"
I indicated for her to follow me as we began walking down the hallway, back toward the elevator.
"That depends, really," she said with a smirk.
"On?" I asked, hitting the button to the elevator.
"On what you have planned. I'd hate for my first chunk of new memories to be boring or mundane. I wouldn’t say there's any pressure, except that there’s totally a ton of pressure on you."
From out the corner of my eye, I could see her smiling to herself as she followed me onto the elevator.
"Ah, don't worry about that,” I said. “After today, you won't even want your old memories back. After today, everything that maybe happened once upon a time will only pale in comparison."
The elevator door closed, taking us down to the parking garage, where we could get the day underway.
I may have been acting a little cocky, but there was good reason for that. I had planned out a day designed specifically around Kate's interests. Ones that I knew her to have. There was just no way that she wouldn't enjoy herself.
Now, one thing I knew about Kate was that she was from a small town. She moved to New York because she thought this was the best place for her to make her dreams comes true, and she loved the city. And by that, I meant that she loved everything about it. She used to obsess over the simple act of going for a walk through the village because she was sure to see someone fascinating. She used to love sitting in the park and reading a book because she found the smells intoxicating. Every aspect of the city excited her, and it was that which I planned on taking advantage of.
To start our date, I took her to a hole-in-the-wall café that she and I used to always go to. It was called Split Bean, and although I was never a fan of it, she used to adore the place. The service was terrible, the coffee was usually shitty, and the food always tasted, at least to me, a day too old to be serving. But she didn't like it for any of those reasons. The café was located on the corner of Central Park and was known for its weird and kooky clientele.
Even as we entered the café, I could see a man in skin tight leathers and a dog collar ordering a drink. And sitting in the corner of the establishment, sipping on a latte without a care in the world, was an old gentleman in a speedo and knee high socks.
"Oh my god," Kate beamed, grabbing at my arm as we entered Split Bean. "Oh my god!" The grip on my arm tightened when a very tall man with a Chihuahua in a baby carrier strapped to his chest, walked in.
"This is a café I come to every now and then. The coffee is average, but the people watching is the best in the city."
"I love people watching," she whispered into my ear just a little too loudly. Not that it mattered. The place was so busy that no one could hear. And besides, the people in there were so used to being stared at that it probably didn't even register to them.
"I thought you might," I said with a smile as I led her to a small table by the window. There we set up shop by ordering a coffee each and settling in for a morning of watching, gaping, and staring.
It was a delightful time and the best I’d ever had at that café. Kate was like a child, seeing everything for the first time. There was a beauty and innocence to her that I couldn't get enough of. The way that her eyes opened wide at every new sight, or how she spat out her coffee when someone particularly interesting walked by, or how she kept on grabbing me whenever she couldn't handle what she was seeing. I loved every minute of it.
"So, what's next?” she said as we exited the café a half hour after entering. “I have to say, that is going to be hard to top."
"Oh, I've got a little something planned."
We crossed the street and headed into Central Park itself. I knew how much Kate loved the Park, and I knew that every inch of it would be brand new to her again. She would want to see as much of it as possible. In anticipation of this, I rented bikes for the two of us to ride.
"No, you didn't?" she gushed and clapped her hands together when I led her to the bike rentals.
"You know how to ride one, don't you?" I asked.
She turned around and slapped me playfully on the arm. "Of course I do. At least, I think I know how to. They say you never forget how to ride a bike.” She frowned. “I don’t know if that applies to amnesia patients.”
I grinned at her. “Looks like we’re about to find out,” I said.
To my relief, she handled the bike nimbly. We spent the next few hours riding around Central Park together. The café had been nice. It had given us a chance to talk. But the bikes got the blood pumping and our pulses racing. They really upped the date from a good time to a great time.
Much like in the café, Kate's enjoyment level was off the charts. Everything seemed to excite her, and she wasn't shy about showing it either. She would happily let out a scream of joy before pedaling as fast as she could toward a tree that looked peculiar, or a squirrel that she saw, or a loving couple that were making out in the bush.
She loved the way that the city met the trees, yet somehow didn’t disturb the natural feeling that the Park gave off. She loved the people that frequented the place, and she loved, well the way she told it, she loved everything.
But we weren't done yet. Not by a long shot.
"Okay," she admitted as we returned our bikes several hours after renting them. "I'll admit. You've outdone yourself. Surely that's it?" Even though she said the words, I could tell from the look on her face that she hoped that wasn't going to be the case.
"Not quite," I said, nodding my head to indicate that she should turn around.
When she did, her eyes nearly popped from their sockets, and I had to work to contain my glee.
"No!" she screamed, darting away from me and toward what it was that I had gestured at.
Across the way was the entrance to the lake that ran through Central Park. One amazing thing about this lake was that you could rent small rowing boats and take them out. They were a pain to row and frightfully expensive to rent. But I figured it would be worth it.
I did all the rowing, letting her take in the sights as she ran her hand through the water, or gazed at the surrounding trees and ducks and other birds that flew overhead and dived into the water. Again, she was like a child, witnessing nature for the first time. Even when we were dating, I had never seen her so happy.
"I can't believe that you did this," she said as I pulled the oars in, allowing the row boat to float gently along the lake.
"Like I said, after today you aren't even going to be wanting those old memories," I said.
Obviously, it was meant as a joke, but to me, it was only too serious. It had been a year since I had been with Kate, and this day only served to remind me just how much I still loved her. She hadn't changed a bit, and it broke my heart to think that she might wake up tomorrow and hate me all over again.
"So far, you're right," she said distractedly as she stared at a duck that swam nearby. "I can't imagine any memory topping this one."
"Yeah, me either," I said, staring at her as she continued to look elsewhere.
She was so damn beautiful that it hurt. I wanted to scamper across the boat and take her in my arms. I wanted to shower her with kisses and have my way with her right there in the middle of the lake. But I couldn't. Resisting the urge was one of the harder things I could ever remember doing.
Then, as if she could read my mind, she stopped looking at the duck and turned on me. There was a sly look in her eyes, and for a moment, I was sure that she really could read my mind. "So, the day is almo
st over," she finally said.
"It is," I said, trying to hide my disappointment.
"What if I told you that I don't want it to be over?" she asked.
"If you said that, I would have to agree with you.”
"So now what?" she asked softly.
I got the distinct impression that she had something on her mind but was too shy or nervous to say it. I was nervous, too. More than I knew possible. But I wasn't going to let that stop me.
"How about we get a drink?" I suggested. "I think we have both earned one. It's been a pretty long day, after all."
"Yeah," she said, nodding. "I think that's an excellent idea. Just so long as you don't let me get drunk. I'd hate to forget this day, too."
I laughed as I reached into the boat and picked up the oars. The day wasn't over yet, not by a long shot, and I had a good feeling that if drinks went as planned, then the night was going to be even better than the day. At least, deep down, I hoped that would be the case.
CHAPTER 8
KATE
The day had been about as close to perfect as I could have hoped for. Everything just seemed so perfect, as if the day were written specifically for me. It was almost like Liam knew me better than I knew myself and had planned our day accordingly.
In hindsight, I couldn't think of a single thing that I didn't like about it. And even as it was happening, it just kept getting better and better. What I liked the most, too, was that it wasn't some lavish, over the top affair. Each activity was quaint and personal and something that I totally dug. That was why it felt so attuned to me specifically. It was the kind of date I would have organized, had I been able to.
And on top of all of that, what made the date perfect and incomparable, was the fact that I was on it with Liam. He was, without a doubt, the most perfect companion ever. He was sweet, kind, caring, funny, and great to look at. I felt confident when I was with him, and for the first time since waking up from that crash, I felt like I belonged. It was an odd sensation, especially as it was with someone I hardly knew, but I wasn't about to fight it.
That was why, after the date, I jumped at the chance to get a drink with him. I just didn't want the date to end.
"I got you a vodka cranberry," Liam said as he fell into the seat beside me. "I hope you like it."
The bar was a hipster joint not too far from my apartment. It was called SPIN, and it clearly took pride in its musical roots. Old records adorned every inch of the walls and roof, and the music that played was some old school rock and roll. I loved it.
"We’ll see," I said, picking up the drink. I took a sip and instantly fell in love with the drink, too. "Yep, we'll put this down in the win category."
"With the rest of the day, right?" he asked, with a smug look on his face. It was lucky he was as handsome as he was, otherwise it might have come off as arrogant. But on Liam, he wore that smile perfectly.
"So far,” I said. “But it only takes one wrong thing to totally ruin a date." I was unable to hide my smile from him.
"Oh, so this is a date then?” he asked with a grin. “Good to know that we've graduated."
"I think you've earned it," I chirped. "Your grades have been stellar, so it only seems right that you move up in the class."
"What do I get if I come first?" he asked, taking a sip of his drink.
His eyes stayed on me the whole time, and it sent a shiver down my spine. One I took great pleasure in. "Ah, you have to get their first," I countered.
"I look forward to trying."
The atmosphere that was settling between us was intense and vibrant. Although the bar was packed and the music loud, I felt as if we were the only two people there. I could have whispered, and I was sure that Liam would have heard every word I said.
With every breath I took, I knew his to match my own. I could smell him, too. His musk wafted across the table and filled my nostrils. It was electrifying. It took every ounce of my self-control just to continue the conversation.
But I knew that I wasn't going to have to hang on for much longer. The way that he was staring at me, and me back at him, one more drink, maybe two, was all that I was going to need. I could never ask. I wasn’t that type of girl. But if he did, well, I was sure that I wasn't going to be able to say no.
And indeed, we lasted but one more drink. It was a slow drink, and barely a word was said during its consumption. He looked into my eyes with every sip, barely blinking, barely seeming to breathe. And the moment it was done, he leaned across the table and took my hand in his.
"So, do you want to get out of here?" he asked casually.
"Where to?" I responded, trying to play it cool.
"I never did get to see the inside of your apartment. The door was lovely, but I've been dying to check out the rest."
He held my eyes again as he said it. His thumb stroked the back of my hand. It made my entire body shake, and I knew then that there was no chance of me denying him. Heck, I didn't want to.
--
I was sure that Liam had been thinking about having me since the moment that we sat down in that bar. Before then, even. There was a chance that he had been thinking about it all day. Since the hospital. Since he first saw me when I came in. If that was the case, which I liked to think it was, he instantly went about satisfying a craving he had been harboring for some time.
As we had been together all day, I wasn't dressed up. Instead, I wore black yoga pants, a sports bra, and a loose-fitting white t-shirt. He was dressed in a similar athletic fashion, with shorts and a baggy t-shirt.
The moment we entered the apartment and I closed the door, he took me. My back was to him as the door closed, and he stepped up behind me. His hands wrapped around my waist as he breathed into my ear. His breath was warm and moist, and before long, I felt his tongue in my ear, licking it as his hands worked their way back around to my ass.
I went to turn around, only for him to hold me in place as he gently kissed down the back of my neck. Tingles radiated across my skin as he did this. All the while, he massaged my backside with his big strong hands. His hands then moved around my waist and up to my breasts. He cupped them in his hands as he bit down on my neck.
It was then that he spun me around, and it was then, finally, that we kissed for the first time. At least, it was the first time that I knew of. There was something so familiar about our kiss. The way our lips touched awakened the ghost of a memory in me. His tongue effortlessly parted my lips as it worked its way into my mouth. It moved in and around my mouth so perfectly, so naturally that I was sure that this couldn't have been our first time. It just felt so damn right.
His hands found their way back to my butt, wrapping around it again. Only this time, he lifted me up, and as he did, I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him in tight. He carried me toward the bed and laid me on my back. Only when I was firmly on the bed did I release him, and that was only so he could help me out of my yoga pants.
He slid them off me in one go, revealing the black thong that I had on underneath. I could hear him gasp as he fell to his knees. His lips instantly kissed at my thighs. He worked his way up my thighs, one soft kiss at a time. He made sure to pair each kiss with the perfect amount of saliva, so his lips practically dripped off my legs.
Once his lips reached my panty line, he continued to kiss on the outside of my panties, nudging at my lips and making my whole body quiver at the sensation. As if our minds were one, I arched my hips and allowed for him to slide my thong off. He then crawled up toward me, kissing me deeply as he removed my shirt and sports bra.
Naked, he proceeded to lick and bite my nipples. As he bit one, his fingers pinched the other, and vice versa. His goal was to make them nice and erect, which he did with ease. All the while, his body pressed itself against me, grinding me and matching my breathing.
My hands found his shirt and tore it off him. It was then my turn to let out a small gasp as my eyes fell on his taut body. He had a six pack, yes. And he had a barrel chest, t
oo. But it was the small tuft of chest hair that I loved the most. It was his small pink nipples, too, and the way that his abdomen seemed to point down toward his crotch.
I was about to pull off his pants, but he beat me to it, dropping back to the end of the bed and burying his head between my legs. I was going to stop him and undress him, but I never got the chance. Before I knew what was what, I felt his tongue press against my lips. I felt it spread them apart, and I felt it plunge inside of me.
It was just like the fantasy I’d had about him right here in this bed. At the time, I’d never imagined that the fantasy would become a reality. Liam was so hot and dreamy. I couldn’t help but feel like he was out of my league. But this was really happening. The feeling of his head between my legs was as real as it got.
His tongue licked inside of me, and I stifled a scream. He worked his way into me, moving up my lips until his tongue found my clit. Once on my clit, it tickled the end, licking and flicking it, making it swell and shake. Then, when he was sure it was enough, he would plunge his tongue back inside of me, darting it in and out only to then go back to my clit.
It was a dance, a perfectly synchronized dance built around my pleasure. The faster and faster he tangoed, the more pleasure I received.
This went on for what felt like seconds but must have been minutes. I never wanted it to end. My breathing intensified, and my body shook. I could feel my toes tingling, and all I wanted was to come all over his face. But he had other ideas.
When he pulled his head up, I almost screamed for him to keep going. That was until I saw what he was doing. His hand was at his pants, and a second later, he dropped them to the floor. My eyes bulged when I saw his thick length, erect and huge. It was gigantic, long, and firm, and quivering for use. It stuck straight up, and I wanted it inside me.
I reached my hand down, wrapping it around the shaft. It pulsated in my grip, and before I knew what I was doing, I guided it between my legs and forced it inside of me. My lips opened around it, swallowing its girth. It stretched me out, pushing its way into me. My lips sucked on it, moisture dripping down the sides. And then it was all the way in me.