My mind clears with every step. Thoughts fall away to make room for feelings. And fuck, do I have a lot of feelings for her.
Grey-green bushes line the path. They continue onto the soft, beige sand. We're in some little alcove, a bay surrounded by cliffs on two sides and rocks on the third.
There are mansions sitting atop the cliffs—nice, expensive five million dollar places—but it's dark enough, people won't be able to see us.
The expanse of deep blue bleeds into the horizon. I can't tell where the sky ends and the ocean begins. The only clue is the stars shining over our heads and reflecting off the water.
This is a romantic spot.
I used to hate that kind of thing, but, right now, it feels perfect.
She lets out a needy sigh as her eyelids fall together. I'm tempted to pin her to the sand, peel off her panties, and get her screaming my name.
Soon.
I drag my lips over her neck and suck on her earlobe.
She groans and tugs at my hair. "Dinner first. Then sex."
I have to chuckle.
"What?" She pulls back with a curious expression in her blue eyes. "What is so funny?"
"If I'd said dinner first then sex?"
She nods, accepting my point. "I'm not smooth yet."
"Not yet."
Piper finds her sandwich and can of iced coffee in the paper bag. She digs a spot in the sand for the can, sets it down, taps sand around the sides to secure it. "I'll work on it."
I grab my sandwich and get to unwrapping it. "I hope you don't."
"Yeah?" She's less patient. She tears the wrapping off her sandwich and takes a huge, not at all ladylike bite.
My lips curl into a smile. It should be criminal for one person to be as adorable as she is.
It's still hard to believe someone like her could want someone like me.
I know I'm appealing on every surface level—hot, rich, famous, talented—but that's not what she's after.
She sees beyond all that.
And sees into my ugly past.
And she's still here.
She still wants me.
"Kit?" She finishes the first half of her sandwich and lets out a satisfied sigh. "You're giving me a look."
"Am I?" I take another bite. The sandwich is average, stale bread and cheap deli-meat, but her company makes this the best meal I've had in a long fucking time.
She nods and offers me her remaining half. "Want to swap, half for half?"
"If you want half of mine, ask."
She nods. "Please."