Love Simmers

Chapter 12

"If it was, then that was a good first date," I said.

I thought back to that night, remembering how cherished Nate had made me feel. He'd been gentle and considerate yet passionate. He'd brought me a coffee and chocolate croissant the next morning.

"I definitely thought there'd be a second date but before I knew it you were gone," his words brought me back to the present.

"Would you have left town with me?" I wondered if I'd given him a second and third and fourth date and then my heart if he'd have moved with me. His comment the other day was stuck in my head. I had never asked about his future plans back then. I'd just assumed he wanted to stay like Ollie.

"Yes, I would have. But you never asked. I don't think you really wanted me at that point in your life."

I wanted to argue but I knew there was no point. He was right. I'd wanted to go alone and accomplish my life goals. I'd wanted to know who I was on my own before I'd figured out who I was as a couple. Even at the expense of sacrificing Nate. Now, I was afraid that I couldn't be in a relationship, I was so set in my ways.

"No, I didn't. I regret those choices now," I spoke honestly, appreciating the irony of my regret. When I'd left him I thought I'd regret never seeing the world on my own. Being that girl who met a guy in high school and stayed with him. Either way I guess I was going to have regrets. Nearly everyone did.

"I don't want your regrets. I want you to try this time round," his eyes were pleading, a desperation showing in them that no words could express.

"I love you," I said for the first time in my life, feeling relief as the words slipped past my lips. It was as though I'd been holding them back for years. I should have said the words that night on the boat. I'd known Nate my entire life. He'd been the first guy I'd stolen from, the first guy I'd kissed, the first guy I'd made love to. I'd run from the truth for so long.

He laughed openly, his expression full of love.

"I haven't even brought out dinner yet or proved to you how well I know you," he pulled his chair closer to me. I stood up and moved to sit on his lap.

"You had me at alpaca."

"I didn't even get to cover your favourite books, movies, music. All the things that annoy you, like tourists who rent sailboats but don't know how to sail."

"Aren't you going to say it back?" I faced him, my left arm wrapped around his neck. He cradled my broken arm carefully between our bodies.

"I've waited thirteen years for you to say it, you can wait a little bit," he teased.

"Thirteen years?" I gave him a sceptical look.

"Since the moment I got dragged out to sea in that rip and you swam out after me with a surfboard. You didn't wait for the lifeguard or an adult, you just went in after me," he reminisced, his tone full of affection. "A girl who swims against the current for you, you fall in love with."

"And that was the moment?"

"That was the moment."

I thought back over the lifetime of moment's we'd had together and wondered why he felt so strongly about that one. It was a funny thing perspective. I remembered being afraid that day that Nate would drown. He remembered the best of it and I remembered the worst. He'd felt love and I'd felt fear, it seemed we'd come full circle.

"I don't know which exact moment was the most defining for me. When I think back you're in almost every childhood memory beside me," I said and I realised that was what had made me love him. That he'd always been there ready to help me or catch me or comfort me. You couldn't ask for a better man than that, a guy who would always be there for at your best and at your worst.

"How about this for a defining moment," his hands pulled me in closer.

"I don't know. You going to put out this time?" I kissed his jaw.

"Depends. You going to buy me dinner first?"

"Roast beef okay?" I slipped my hand under his shirt, loving the sensation of his hard six-pack beneath my fingers.

"You hungry?" He asked, gently placing his hand on mine.

"It can wait." I wanted him now more than anything.

He pulled me into his arms, and carried me off to the bedroom. He lowered me onto the bed. His mouth took mine in a wild kiss. His hand tangled in my long hair, his firm grasp bringing me closer. I moaned softly. I gasped as he swept me up into another kiss. My shirt was off seconds later. I scrambled to pull his off, desperate to feel his skin pressed against mine. He tugged off my pants, his hand slipping underneath my panties to squeeze my ass. I unzipped him carefully, his jeans falling away with a bit of his help. My panties were gone a second later. His hand caressing me, I cried out in pleasure. He gently teased me. I moved against his hand, hungry for more. I needed him now.

"Can't drag this out, been waiting so long," he groaned, slipping out of his boxers.

I whimpered as I felt him slip a finger inside me. I ran my hands down his muscled back as I felt him spread me open. I grabbed his stiff cock, running my fingertips teasingly across his shaft. He grabbed my hand and pulled it away.

Without losing a beat, he discreetly covered himself with a condom. Putting my arm over my head before I could touch him again. He slipped a strong arm under my waist, raising my hips off the bed he gently entered me. I felt my inner walls stretch around him as he pushed deep inside of me, our cries echoing in the night.

"Better than I remember." He started moving, his hard thrusts causing me to cry out in pleasure.

I groaned as I felt myself climax in his arms.

"So good," he continued thrusting as we both came, his hands stroking my face and hair as he spent himself inside of me.

"I love you," he collapsed beside me, pulling me tightly against his chest.

I snuggled into him, never having felt closer to a person then in this moment. If this is what it felt like to be in love, I'd deprived myself of something incredible.