Cuffs and Kisses

Chapter 22 - When the Lights Go Out

Heather

When I climbed into Fletcher's 4Runner on Friday night, I was shocked to see the back seats folded down to make room for an air mattress. Immediately, my heart dropped as I imagined what he had planned for the night. Still, Fletcher's smile makes—me feel warm so I fasten my seatbelt.

He drives further down the backroads than I have been before. Eventually, he pulls into a field and drives another half mile on the dirt path until he stops under a lone tree at the top of the hill. He cuts the engine and gets out, telling me to stop when I reached for the door handle.

Fletcher opens my car door, waits for me to get out, and then leads me to the hatchback. Finally, I get a better look at the setup in the back. Fletcher flips a switch on a battery pack and a string of lights illuminates the car. Multiple layers of blankets sit atop the mattress, making it look cozy. The sight of it fills me with the desire to relax mixed with wariness that he's still expecting sex.

Fletcher spins me around to lean against the car as he kisses me. As he kisses me, my lips revert to their most recent memory. Kayne's face fills my head. The rigor of his cheekbones and the delicious shape of his lips when he's smiling at me.

Thoughts of Kayne are pulled away by Fletcher's hands wandering my upper body. The wander a little too close to my breasts for comfort, but I don't ask him to stop. I close my eyes to focus on Fletcher's kisses, but I can only see Kayne's features in my mind.

Even worse, I can't help feeling like something is missing. For instance, the electricity that I felt with Kayne.

Kayne.

I wish I was watching a movie with him instead of going on a date with Fletcher. Even if Kayne and I didn't make out, I would enjoy his company more.

Especially here right now.

I pull away from Fletcher, climbing into the trunk space. I lay down on the mattress and Fletcher ambles up to join me. Moving to face me, he lays on his side with one arm propping up his head.

We stare at the view out the back of the vehicle. The sun is setting slowly, soon to disappear behind the mountains. At the moment, the sky is a smorgasbord of watercolors ranging from powder blue to lavender to peach. It really is beautiful. It gives a romantic feeling to the evening, but it makes me wonder what else Fletcher has planned for us on that mattress.

For a moment, I think maybe I should do it with him. It would negate everything I've told him and Mac about why I didn't want to do it if I just did it to get it over with. I do believe that sex gets better the more you practice it together, so you have to start somewhere. No matter how romantic it is tonight, I'm still unable to convince myself that this is the right thing to do.

"This seems like a date on an episode of the Bachelorette."

"Welcome to the Fantasy Suite." Fletcher says with a chuckle. I raise my eyebrows at him.

"How did you know that's what it is called?"

"I may have seen a season or two."

"Shut up." I say, completely surprised.

"My mom and I used to watch it when it's on TV." Fletcher's smiling with his lips but his eyes hold a deep sadness.

"My mom and I used to watch it every week, too. It was like our religion." I smile at the thought. "The new season of the Bachelor starts in January. Are you and your mom going to watch it together?"

Fletcher raises his arm to rub the back of his neck. He breaks eye contact with me when he says, "She actually passed away last March after the last season ended. I didn't even feel up to watching Hannah Brown's season of the Bachelorette. Breast cancer."