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I kept my hands to myself the rest of the short trip, watching Ty drive. He appeared extra attentive to the road and almost sedate, at odds with the bulge in the front of his jeans.

Somewhere, sixteen-year-old me was squealing in excitement. Adult me wasn’t far behind. I’d been too sheltered in high school to ever venture with a boy to Five Mile Drive.

Ty pulled into the park entrance at Pearl Street as the sun started to set behind the clouds over the Sound. He followed the signs for Five Mile Drive, wincing at every speed bump.

I couldn’t help my giggle. “Sorry.”

“No, you’re not.” He grinned. “But I’m not either.”

He drove us into the heavy woods bordering the groomed area of Point Defiance, and the truck was immediately cloaked in twilight thanks to the trees. We wound along until it felt like we were the only ones on earth, shrouded in tall fir trees and a mix of other vegetation.

Ty cut his engine, letting the natural sounds of the forest take over. It should have been soothing, but my pulse raced. I unclipped my seatbelt while he did the same. Ty slid one long leg up on the bench seat as I boosted to crawl over him. I winced as I hit my elbow on the steering wheel and he laughed.

“This was a lot easier when I was sixteen.”

I smoothed the flare of jealousy at the reminder of Jess and their history. I’d emerged the victor, with Ty’s heart as the prize. And together, we’d make new memories.

“Sixteen-year-olds have smaller bodies? I’ve got to admit, we don’t exactly fit.”

He traced a finger down my arm, and I shivered.

“Oh, we fit.” His smoky smile sent a rush of slick moisture between my thighs.

He pushed forward, trailing kisses along the exposed skin at my clavicle before capturing my mouth in a mind-drugging kiss. There was a desperate edge to his caress, as if he were trying to hold onto every moment, reassure himself somehow. When he pulled back, breathing hard, I had to agree with his earlier assessment. We absolutely fit.

I pushed my hips into his, enjoying the heat and length of his erection pressed against me. We kissed for what felt like forever, hands dragging across a mix of skin and fabric, hips pressing. Ty didn’t make any moves to take our makeout session further, and I didn’t know if I should appreciate his restraint or pout. He seemed content to luxuriate in each kiss, as if he could absorb me through his skin. Imprint on me forever. As if he were worried each kiss could be our last.

The sky beyond the truck window had darkened steadily, and as the temperature outside dropped, our windows fogged. Ty distracted me with another round of wet kisses, and I lost myself in the moment. Lost myself in him. Never had I met a man so inherently kind and good, who also made me shudder with desire.

Bang. Bang.

Ty ripped his mouth from mine, breathing hard. His pained chuckle gave me the strength to pull away.

“Park’s closed. Time to take this home, otherwise I have to ticket you,” someone said through the window. From the deep bark of the voice, I guessed a park employee.

Ty looked chagrined as we disentangled ourselves, and he rolled down the driver’s window.

Blinded by the flashlight, we both squinted, holding up hands to protect our eyes.

“Move it along. You can’t park here.”

We’d been behaving like teenagers, so I couldn’t fault the ranger for treating us like them.

“Yes, sir,” Ty intoned with a straight face. “We’ll head out now.”

“See that you do.”

We still couldn’t see the source of the severe voice on the other end of the flashlight, but Ty didn’t waste any time cranking up the truck to drive me home.

I held back my chuckle until we made it out of the park before the guffaws took over.

“I’m so sorry, Ty.”

He cast a sheepish smile my way. “You know, I’m glad it was a park employee, not Tacoma PD. I’d never hear the end of it at work if they had to dispatch someone to boot me from the park for necking.”

I snickered, trying to feel shame, but failing at the picture Ty created. We had been acting like kids. I glanced at him fondly. Something about Ty made me feel freer than I had in years. Renewed. He brought back the sense of humor and fun that had been slowly strangling out of me with the descent into adulthood. I’d been ticking boxes, moving forward, instead of enjoying life.

I was young. In love. And I wanted to enjoy every moment.