Changing Tides

Ten

I lay in bed for hours thinking about what happened in the penthouse. I couldn't stop myself from smiling. I was giddy to my feet. I tried to savor the memory of our kiss, the first one and the few ones we had until we parted. I had to gather all my strength not to let him in my room. I know I can't let myself do that just now. It was dizzying how intensely I was drawn to him but I know it just wasn't the right time. I don't know what will happen tomorrow but I was sure that it will never be the same. I can't contain my feelings so I took my journal and wrote about it. 

I woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee. I groaned and opened my eyes. I saw James' blue eyes staring back at me. "Good morning, dear." he planted a kiss on my lips. He was beside me, in my bed. 

I sat and straightened. "How'd you even get in?"

"I have special abilities, you know." he raised his eyebrow. "Since when can Professor X open a locked door, huh?" I asked, teasingly. "I think you're underestimating my powers, Miss. But do you really want to know what I'm thinking right now?" he said and narrowed his eyes. "You tell me, you're the telepath." I replied. He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to bed. We were giggling and I tried to fight him but he was tickling me. 

The coffee was already cold when we got up. We decided to go out and walk to the beach. I admit that we have been tactile with each other and it made some people stare. I couldn't care for the world. 

"So what do we do now?" he asked. I was taken aback by his question but he continued, "I mean we finished your friend's list. What now?" 

"I don't know. I'm up for anything for as long as I'm with you." I gazed at him. His warm smile made my heart melt. He took my hand and we made our way to his car. We drove without any destination in mind. I opened my side of the window and a warm breeze swept over me. James opened his side of the window too. I turned on the radio and the song being played was Fast Car . I turned up the volume and sang along with it. I thought it was the perfect song for the moment. 

"You can actually sing aye?" He said, amused. "You're not the only one here who has a talent." I boasted. "Since I was young I really wanted to sing. But I was so shy so I just do it inside the house or in the shower. No one really heard me sing except maybe Eris..and now you." I explained. "You can sing to me all the time." and with that I immediately felt my face reddened. 

The road narrowed but we were the only car in sight. The sun was shining over the fields from both sides of the road and we were somewhere no one knows, I turned to him and looked at his face. He returned my gaze, "Let's runaway." I told him. He took my hand and kissed the back of it. If I could stop everything on that instant I would. I would stay in that place and time with him and only him. There was no denying how intense my feelings are; it was beyond reason, a feeling I could never fathom. 

But reality and time was catching up on us, no matter how hard we try to speed up. One way or another, we have to go back. It was impossible to fight with it because our lives depended on it. But I'm not giving up just yet. I will hold on to this for as long as I can. 

Night came and the sky was full of stars. We stopped the car beside the road. I got out and he followed me. I turn my gaze upward and marvel at the beauty of the stars above. From behind, he wrapped his arms around me. I closed my eyes and tried to memorize the feel and warmth of his body. I turned around and wrapped my arms around him. I can hear his heartbeat and feel the rising and falling of his chest. It was an overload of sensation that I know I will never forget. When we part, he reached down and our lips once again touched. It was gentle, tender, and pure like my feelings for him. 

"Remember that I have an extra turn to ask you a question and you have to be truthful to your answer?" I asked him. "Yeah. Why?" he replied. 

"I want to use that now." I paused.

 "Go on." he said.

"Are you happy?" I was searching his eyes for an answer and his response proved me right.

"I'm in deep euphoria." And we both smiled. 

The long way home was worth it. As soon as we enter my room he led me to bed.  I knew that everything that happened to us was leading to this moment. We kissed and held each other more intensely than we ever did before. But I can sense that he was being careful with me. Every inch of me that he touch was filled with bliss.  We lie in bed wrapped in each others' arms. I whispered to him, "Thank you." He knew that it's all I could give him. "Being with you in this moment is more than enough for me." We fell asleep, neither of us wanting to let each other go.