“You brought blankets?” she asked, eyes dropping to the two I had folded and draped over my arm.
“In case you get cold,” I said.
“How thoughtful of you,” she said through a smile.
“Don’t tell me,” I said and barely fought the grin my lips stretched into. “You don’t get cold easily either?”
She sucked in a deep breath and on the exhale, she said, “Oh, you know. I’m self-insulated.”
She made a gesture toward her body, indicating the curves that kept me wanting more.
I chuckled. “Your body is perfect.”
“Thanks, I think.” She bashfully tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Then she settled her gaze on me. “What would you have done if I had decided to turn around and head back to the room?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t think of that. But I’m glad you didn’t because I have something to show you.”
“You do?” she asked, taken aback.
I nodded and grabbed her hand and pulled her off the path onto the side of the mountain, weaving between bushes and trees until we came to a small clearing that overlooked the town below.
“Oh my gosh,” she breathed. “The town looks so beautiful from up here.”
I smirked and laid out the blankets, keeping one to folded over in case she got cold. “Yes, it is. Very beautiful. But that’s not what I wanted to show you.”
I took a seat on the blanket and patted the spot next to me. “Come here.”
She smiled and took a seat next to me. “Now what?”
“Lay down,” I said, nodding to the ground.
She laughed. “If that’s what you are trying to show me, give it up. I’ve already seen it.”
I smirked. She could play coy all she wanted to. She had no idea what she was in for, and I had waited so long to share this with the woman who claimed my heart. “Not like this, you haven’t.”
I laid down and rested my hands behind my head. I nodded toward the sky and waited for her to lay down with me. She seemed to think about it for several seconds before positioning herself on the blanket to lay with me.
And once she did, she gasped. “Oh.”
“Uh-huh,” I said. “You were saying?”
“I stand corrected,” she said as her eyes danced along the sky. “I didn’t know so many stars could be seen from here.”
“Yup,” I said and slid my arm underneath her head. “Now this is our special place.”
She leaned in closer, taking in the sight above us. The night became a masterpiece at this moment.
“This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with me,” she looked up into my eyes and I was overwhelmed with the urge to kiss her.
“You’re welcome,” I murmured, sliding the tips of my fingers along her cheek and then cupped the back of her head. I brought my lips closer to hers and brushed them gently in a kiss.
She didn’t pull away from me. I almost half-expected her to recoil from my touch. Because I still truly believed she was too good for me. But she saw something in me. She believed I was worthy of her touch and her time.
And I wasn’t about to let her go.
17
CASSIDY