The Missing Gem

12 | Unexpected Bliss

Lucas

If I knew I'd be feeling this blissfully happy, during all twenty four hours of the day, every single day, after finally speaking up and acting on my emotions regarding Nicole Meyers, I would have confessed my true feelings for her the night she showed up at Gems of the Heath. 

It didn't work out that way but I wouldn't complain, considering the fact that I truly cherished all the flirting and all the small moments with her as friends before we crossed that line. It brought us to where we are now. And right here, right now is exactly where I love to be. 

Her naked body was half on top of mine, half on top of the mattress and her comforter was covering us both from our cold skin as the sweat from our morning session of love making slowly started to dry.

She nuzzled her face in between my shoulder and my neck while she traced her delicate fingers through the outline of my torso, my arms, my face - she loved to do that and I didn't complain.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

It's been a couple of weeks since we had the much needed talk between the two of us to set the record straight and nothing between us changed ever since. I trusted her more and more each day and the overwhelming feeling of joy that I carried around like an appendix was the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

"Where in the world would you like to live?"

"Are we playing twenty one questions now?"

"Uh..." She squinted her eyes in the most adorable way while I could see the wheels turning in her head only for her to open them wide after. "Yes! Yes, we are. Where?"

"Um... I don't know. Anywhere you are would be perfect." I could sense some discomfort from her as her eyes met mine and although in the back of mind I knew why, I chose to ignore it and let the moment pass, choosing not to worry about something we shouldn't be worrying about at this stage. 

Her frown turned upside down into a smile and she kissed my lips passionately. "Good answer." 

"My turn now - what's your idea of a perfect date?"

"Oh, this is a good one. Ready?" I nodded. "Santa Monica pier - to go on the rides, to eat cotton candy and hot dogs. My date could get me a teddy bear at one of those water gun games, and then we could go on the photo booth and get a bunch of silly pictures taken."

She smiled broadly as she spoke, her mind was flying freely and unfiltered and I loved seeing her like this.

"Don't laugh, it's been my idea of a perfect date since I was twelve." She said before giggling, hiding her face in the crook of my neck.

"I wasn't going to. It sounds pretty cool, though. Has anyone ever taken you out on that date?"

"Nope. Lived in Malibu for years, only moved out when I went to college but still, no one in high school took me out on my perfect date."

"That's such a shame." I said while my hands traveled her body, memorizing every curve, every inch, every imperfection. "Alright I've got one - when can I read a chapter from your book?"

She rolled her eyes at me as she groaned and I couldn't help but smile at her antics. Sharing our passion isn't always easy but that didn't stop me from sharing mine with hers and looking back now, I don't regret it one bit. 

"You know, I would much rather have you read it once it's finished."

"No way." I offered her a no way out and she let go of my embrace to make her way to the living room and may I add, naked. Fully naked. She came back with a stack of paper and handed a few pages.