Page 22

Charlie

I like how peaceful it is out here. You wouldn’t expect it when you’re living with a bunch of college students but the few that I’ve seen walking through the courtyard talk quietly amongst themselves.

I lean back and close my eyes, tilting my chilled cheeks towards the sun. Images of last night flash behind my eyes. The way he felt in my hand and on my tongue was better than I ever thought it would be. His salty flavor mixed with the softness of his silky skin was the best aphrodisiac, giving me the confidence I needed to play with his nipple and balls. The sounds he made when I had him in my mouth had me on the edge of coming. If he lasted any longer, I’m pretty sure I would have came in my pants.

Then the way he looked at me when he took my hoodie off. There was a bit of concern in his eyes at first but the further down he kissed the more worked up I became and forgot to worry about what he thought of my body. And holy shit, the way he swallowed me without hesitating at my size had me all out of sorts. I clench my ass as I recall the way he worked me over as he kept hitting my prostate through my orgasm. It was better than any high I’ve had with drugs.

A smile touches my lips at how good I feel. It’s been a really long time since I’ve been able to just breathe and not feel like I’m drowning.

A warm blanket is draped over my shoulders followed by a kiss to my cheek. I open my eyes and turn my head to kiss Shane on the lips. He lets out a low groan as his arms tighten around me.

“Good morning, beautiful.”

“I think it’s closer to noon,” I whisper against his lips making him laugh.

“You might be right on that one.” He laughs again before standing up and walking around in front of me to sit in the other chair. “How long have you been up? Ryder said you’ve been out here for two hours. Did you go back to sleep after filling in my tattoos?”

I shake my head. “I couldn’t fall back to sleep. You woke up around seven and I finished coloring around eight-thirty.” I shrug looking back to the courtyard as two girls do the walk of shame holding their heels.

Sensing him looking at me, I turn to see his blue eyes studying me.

“Why didn’t you talk to me this week?”

I think I might have hurt him by trying to protect him.

“I felt like I was more of a burden than a friend last weekend. You shouldn’t have to take care of me the first time we hang out together. I felt guilty for stealing your weekend because I couldn’t keep my shit together for more than a few minutes.” I chew my lip and look down at my hands playing with the drawstring of the sweats that I stole. “I’m not the best person to be around at the beginning of October, or at all really. I-I have a past, and when it shows its ugly face one time, it’s like it has a chokehold on me and the only way to escape is to…”

Fuck, am I about to tell him this? He makes it so easy to open up to without feeling like I’m being judged.

“Look at me, Charlie.”

I swallow and lift my head to see him holding out his hand. I slide my cold hand across the table to his warm one.

“You are not a burden. I wanted to spend the weekend with you regardless of how it was spent. And I enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, there were some moments that worried me, but we worked through them. And once you came back to me, I learned of your love for fantasy movies and how insanely talented you are with not only with a pencil but with paint and clay.” He rubs over my knuckles with his thumb. “I hate that you went through something that causes so much stress that you feel the need to escape. But I’m here and I want to help ease some of that stress and anxiety.”

There he goes, being sweet to me again. The back of my eyes sting as tears try to come out. I sniffle and take in a shaky breath.

“I, umm, I use prescription drugs to numb my mind when the voices get too loud and weed to calm my anxiety. My mother replaces the pills anytime I get low, even though I’ve never asked her to.”

I chew on the inside of my cheek as I nervously wait for his response. When he takes longer than a minute to say something, my knee starts bouncing so fast the chair shakes.

“Come here.” He pulls my hand until I get up and walk up to him, swallowing nervously.

Does he think I’m an addict on top of everything else?

Why the hell did you tell him about the pills?

And that your mother is basically your supplier.

Good job, now he’s going to be even more worried about your stupid ass.

You’re so fucked up!

His thumb rubs over my cheek, wiping away the tear that slipped out. I choke on a sob and cover my face. He pulls my hands from my face, then grabs my hips and tugs me down to straddle his lap. I press my face into his neck as I try to prevent another sob from coming out.

“Shh, I’ve got you baby.” He rubs my back as he holds me close. “You’re okay.” He kisses my forehead, keeping his lips there for a few beats before pulling away and wiping the tears from my face. “I’m sorry you feel the need to use drugs. I know you said you were seeing a therapist and received medicine. Is that what helps quiet your mind?”

It’s a half-truth. The originals came from the multiple shrinks I saw in my early teens. I was never allowed to see the bottles or know what I was taking. They’d be sitting on my dresser when I woke up and because I was an even bigger mess back then, I took them without question. They worked until they didn’t and the second my mother noticed my mood changing, I woke up the next day to three new pills. That lasted until I was eighteen. She stopped giving them to me cold turkey and by then I was addicted to the feeling of being numbed by them. Looking back, I think she did it to mess up my senior year and all the projects I had going on for college.

When I was unpacking my bag after moving into my townhouse, I found seven orange pill bottles sitting on top of my clothes along with a note in her handwriting.

Charles,

Take these so you won’t embarrass your brother. He needs to focus on hockey and not deal with your mess.

She’s been refilling the bottles ever since.

“Charlie?” Shane’s voice brings me back to the present.

I blink rapidly to rid my mother’s face from my mind.

“There you are, sweet boy.” He tenderly brushes my hair from my eyes.

The wind blows making me shiver.

“Let’s go inside. Ryder was making veggie burgers before I came out here, but I wouldn’t count on him actually finishing.”

He helps me stand and laces our fingers together as he stands up and leads me inside.

The smell of burnt…something smacks us in the face as soon as we step inside. I pull the neck of my hoodie over my nose and see Shane do the same.

“Ryder?” Shane calls as we walk to the kitchen.

He doesn’t answer as we reach the counter where there are what I think are supposed to be veggie burgers sitting on a plate with a note telling us to enjoy, and that he went to go get a meat lovers pizza with Matt.

Shane picks one up and sniffs it but jerks his head back.

“That doesn’t smell right.”

He tries to break it in half but needs to use a ridiculous amount of strength to do so. He starts to crack up when he bangs it on the counter and the black disk barely crumbles.

“We might have better luck trying to eat a hockey puck.”

He picks up the plate and dumps them into the trash can with a loud thud making us both laugh.

“I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t think he followed the recipe. That or he cooked them a lot longer than he should have.”

“He tries to help but the kitchen is not the place for him,” Shane says through another laugh.

He walks to his pantry and opens it, surveying what he has.

I walk up next to him and spot the blue and yellow box of mac and cheese. Grabbing it, I give him my best puppy dog eyes.

“That would be the result of Ryder on a grocery run.” He shakes his head as he takes the box from me, flipping it back and forth. “You sure this is what you want? I can make you some that’ll be way cheesier and more filling.”

“Yes. I like the flavor of powdered cheese.”

He snorts and leans down for a quick kiss then shakes his head as he walks to the stove. “How about some broccoli or tofu with it?” His head is in the refrigerator with his fine ass sticking out. Those grey sweats hug his globes perfectly.

“I don’t like broccoli, and I’ve never had tofu I liked that didn’t come from our chef.”

He stands with the pack of extra firm tofu in his hands.

“You don’t strike me as someone who eats tofu,” I eye him curiously. “I thought you and Ryder would have the freezer full of chicken and beef for protein and stuff.”

He cuts the plastic open and starts cutting up the tofu into cubes.

“I enjoy the versatility of it, and it’s loaded with protein, so it makes for a good alternative when I’m not hungry for meat but still want to meet my protein goals.” He lines a baking sheet with parchment paper and puts the tofu pieces in a single layer. He grabs spices from the cabinet and lines them up in front of me. “Pick two.”

I scan the row of spices and pick the buttery garlic and smoked paprika. I hand them to him as he opens another container and sprinkles it over the tofu. He adds the two spices and then mixes them up with his hands. I tilt my head trying to figure out how these are going to be any good.

“Trust the process,” he whispers before winking.

He cooks them in the oven while he finishes up the mac and cheese. With everything finished, he grabs both of our plates and signals for me to follow him into the living room. Sitting on the couch, I stab one of the tofu cubes. The crunch it makes when my fork goes through it is like music to my ears. It’s perfectly crispy with the right amount of spice. I smile as I let out a long ‘mmm’ sound.

Shane beams at me as I take another bite.

“Good right? My little sister Liz went vegetarian a few years ago so my mom and I had to find ways to make food that wasn’t bland.” He pops a square into his and chews before talking again. “Liz was adamant about wanting to like tofu so after countless trials, we landed on this method, and it’s been my favorite way to cook it since.” He takes a big bite of mac and cheese and smiles softly. “This reminds me of childhood. You’re right, there’s something about the powdered cheese that always hits.”

I nod as I scoop a forkful of the yellow noodles into my mouth.

“So good,” I mumble with my mouth full.

We eat and talk about what projects I’m working on and how he’s excited about the upcoming games. When we’re finished eating, Shane takes our bowls and sets them on the coffee table and I turn to face him.

“Tell me about this Avatar obsession of yours.”

My cheeks heat as he pulls my hoodie to him and kisses me.

“Don’t do that. I love hearing you talk about what brings you joy.” He pecks my lips again and sits back.

“Um, I guess it started when I read my first fantasy book when I was ten. I’ve always loved getting lost in a fantasy because it takes me away from reality for a little while. It intrigued me so much that after I’d read a book, I’d watch any fantasy movie I could find.” I chuckle sheepishly. “Then I was introduced to science fantasy when the first Avatar movie came out. It was like everything I imagined from the books and the movies came together in this one movie.” I shrug.“The movies were just a way for me to see the world I wanted to escape to. But now, since I’ve watched them so many times, it’s more of a comfort thing. I hate the silence that comes with living alone so at night I pick one of the movies to fall asleep to.”

“That explains a lot actually.” He leans forward so I copy him, meeting him in the middle. “I love that you have books and movies to help you.” He kisses me deeply before leaning back again.

“Can you tell me about your sisters? You have two, right,” I ask, leaning against the arm of the couch.

“Yup. Becca is two years older than me at twenty-five, she’s a veterinarian and lives a few towns over from our hometown with her boyfriend Brady. And Liz is eighteen and goes to the University of Florida, she’s studying to be an elementary school teacher.” He looks proud as he talks about his sisters.

“Where are you from and how did you get into hockey?”

“Are we playing twenty-one questions? If so, I want a redo,” he snickers as he stretches out his leg to tap his foot with mine. “I’m from Bridgestone, Florida. It’s just south of Orlando near all the theme parks. My dad played in the NHL minor league for ten years before getting injured. His love for the sport carried over to me. I picked up my first hockey stick at five and haven’t looked back since. I’ve worked my whole life to get where I am. All I need is to be drafted into the NHL to complete my dream.” He looks into my eyes as he says the next part. “Well, almost complete my dream. I’ll need someone to share my life with then it’ll be complete.”

My breath hitches as he pulls my leg, dragging me across the couch until I’m just inches from his face.

“Charlie, I know we’ve only known each other for a short amount of time but I have strong feelings for you. My heart reaches out for you, and it doesn’t calm down until you’re in my arms. I’ve never felt this way for anyone before, but it feels right being with you.”

“I feel it too. I can’t tell you the last time I felt safe enough to sleep somewhere that wasn’t my bed or under the stars. But with you, I’ve never felt safer.” I hold the sides of his neck as he holds my face. “W-will you b-be my boyfriend?” I stutter the words but keep my eyes locked with his.

Blue and gold.

Gold and blue.

“Baby, you’ve been mine since the moment we fell in the quad.”

He kisses me then. Deeply. Passionately. He leans towards me until my back hits the cushion, resting his weight on me. He keeps kissing me as he starts grinding his hard dick against my rapidly filling one.

“Let me take care of you, beautiful. No more hiding. No more secrets. Be mine,” he says breathlessly against my lips.

“I’m yours, Shane. All yours.”

He moans as he pushes his hips against mine causing the sweetest friction against my length.

He rolls off me and stands before bending down to pick me up. He carries me to his room but instead of going to his bed, he walks into the bathroom. Setting me on the counter, he turns on the shower then pulls his hoodie over his head in one swift move, leaving him in those sinful grey sweats. I can see his straining cock fighting to escape its confines. As he steps between my legs, he takes my hand and wraps it around his length through his pants.

I give it a few tugs before using both hands to lower his pants. There’s no resistance as they fall to the floor leaving him naked, making my mouth water.

He pulls my hoodie off and I lift my hips as he slides my pants down, leaving me naked too. “You’re so perfect. Do you know that?” He kisses me between each of his next words. “Every.” kiss “Single.” kiss “Inch.” kiss “Of.” kiss “You.” kiss

I deepen the last kiss as he picks me up and carries me into the shower. Lowering me to my feet, he reaches past me for his shampoo. I hear him squirt it in his hands then they’re in my hair. He massages my head for what feels like an eternity. He spins me back around to rinse my hair then grabs his sponge and adds his delicious-smelling bodywash to it. The scent mixing with the steam has me getting harder. He notices and smirks but as he starts washing me, he purposely avoids it making me whine.

“Shh. Turn around and put your hands on the wall for me, baby.”

I do as he says and look over my shoulder to see him kneeling behind me.

He’s not about to do what I think he’s going to do, is he?

He grabs my ass cheeks and spreads them, letting the warm water run over my hole.

“No hair.” I think I hear him say right before he dives in.

I’ve never had anyone’s mouth anywhere near my ass but as he spears my hole with his tongue, I think it might be a new favorite.

He groans as he licks up and down my crease and reaches between my legs to grab my balls.

“I-I’m going to c-come,” I moan.

His finger enters me along with his tongue. He starts pumping them in and out of me while rubbing my drawn-up balls in his other hand. Heat rushes to my dick the second he hits my prostate, making me come all over the shower wall.

“Shane…Nugh…” I pant as my cock squirts out even more cum as he keeps his finger in me, rubbing my prostate.

He stands up and quickly spins me around, planting his lips on mine. His hard dick pushes into my stomach as he grabs my ass and grinds against me.

“That was so fucking hot. I’ve never been with a guy that can come hands-free.” He breathes heavily with a look of fascination. “Have you ever done that before?”

I bite my lip and shake my head. “I usually have a hard time getting off. You have magic fingers because I’ve never come this quickly.”

“I want to make you do it again.” He bends down and picks me up by my ass and turns off the shower. He walks to his bed and drops me on it still soaking wet. I scoot backward as he crawls to me like a tiger hunting his prey.

He moves fast, grabbing my ankles and dragging me down to him making me squeak.

“That was adorable.”

He lifts my left leg and kisses my ankle bone then makes his way up my calf, behind my knee, then to my inner thigh. He pauses as he reaches the scars. I start to pull away, but he surprises me by kissing each one. My heart is beating loudly in my ears but it’s not from panic this time. No, it’s because I’m trying not to cry and ruin this moment. He’s so gentle as he brushes his lips over each scar.

Why is he kissing them instead of asking a million questions?

How is he not disgusted?

I don’t understand.

Tears start to silently fall down my temples as I do my best to concentrate on his…love? No, it’s not that. He can’t love me.

He lifts my balls and kisses my taint before moving to my right thigh and showing it the same tender treatment. I let out a hiccup as I try to catch my breath, causing him to look up at me.

“It’s okay, baby. They’re a part of you and they deserve the same attention as the rest of you.” He cradles the side of my face.

I lean into it, nodding. He kisses away my tears then moves to my jaw, neck, and down my right arm. He kisses each visible burn mark with the same softness as he did on my thighs, making me tear up again.

After he repeats the kisses on my left arm, I’m a mess of overwhelming emotions. They all come at me one after the other.

Anger that I did this to myself.

Disgusted that he had to see them.

Sadness because no one has ever touched me like this.

Happiness from having found someone like Shane.

Fearing what he thinks of me.

Anguish because he’ll leave me like everyone else.

“Hey, hey. You’re alright, baby. Take deep slow breaths. There you go.” He shifts so he’s lying across me, applying pressure I didn’t know I needed. I take slow breaths as I look into his bright blue eyes.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin the moment,” I softly say as he runs his fingers through my damp hair.

“You have nothing to apologize for. I wanted to show you how perfect your body is.” He kisses my shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. It was just a lot, and I wasn’t expecting to feel as much as I did.”

He wraps himself around me and rolls us until I’m on top of him.

“We should nap like this.” He pulls the covers out from under him, but I sit up before he can drape them over us.

I bite my lip as I rock back onto his softened dick.

“You want to do more?”

“I need you to fuck me. I don’t want to think anymore. Please, Shane,” I beg as I rock back again.

“I’ve got you, baby.” He stretches over and pulls out the bottle of lube. “Have you ever had anal sex?”

I feel my Adam’s apple bob on a rough swallow. “S-Sort of. It’s been a while but I’m ready.”

He sits up with me still straddling him. “Same rules as last night. If you need me to stop at any time, say the word. Okay? Promise?”

He pops the cap open but waits.

“I promise.” I lean back and look him in the eye. “Can you go slow?” He smiles softly before kissing me and flips us back over so he’s sitting between my open legs.

“I’ll go as slow as you need me to, baby.”

I lay back on the pillow and work on relaxing while he opens me with one then two fingers. He adds more lube to my crease then sucks me into the back of his throat in one move as more pressure is pushed into me.

“Oh f-fuck,” I hiss.

He doubles his effort and swallows over and over as he slowly moves his fingers in and out of me. The more he does it the less it feels like pressure and more like pleasure.

“More. I need more,” I plead as I look down at him.

He looks up at me through his thick lashes as he sucks my dick on his way up.

“Are you ready for me?” he asks in a deep timber I haven’t heard before.

It makes me shiver all over.

I nod enthusiastically making him snicker as he grabs a pillow and puts it under my hips. He pulls a condom out from somewhere and rips the wrapper with his teeth and rolls it on. He smears a lot of lube on his covered length then adds more into me. He notches the head up to my hole and looks up at my face.

“You ready?”

I nod and brace for the pressure and burn but when he tries to push in, he’s met with resistance.

“You have to relax, baby.” He rubs soothing circles on my thighs until I unclench. He slowly pushes in, and the burn is almost too much. He stops with what feels like half his dick in me. “Breath baby. Holding your breath won’t help.”

I slowly release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. Taking a few steadying breaths, I look down at where we’re connected. It looks like only the head is in, I still have like seven thick inches to take.

I can do this. The burn won’t last the entire time.

Fuck that!

You know it’s going to hurt!

Bet Shane will ram it all the way in then fuck the hell out of you!

Hard and fast!

I mentally shake the voices away and I nod for him to keep going.

“Bear down as I push in. It’ll help, I promise,” he kisses my calf.

When he feels me pushing out, he slowly starts to push in. There’s still a lot of pressure but he rocks his hips back and forth as he slowly adds more of himself into me.

I clench when I can’t take the burning anymore. He stops and looks up at me with sweat dripping down his temple.

“What’s wrong? Do you want to stop?”

Shaking my head, I clench around him again making a groan escape his lips.

“You’re really big. I don’t think it’s all going to fit,” I wheeze.

Shane bends down, stopping an inch from my face. “It’ll fit. Trust me.” He pecks my lips. “But if it’s too much, I don’t mind frotting. Or we can sixty-nine. Whatever you want, beautiful.”

I look down and see he still has about three girthy inches left. Shit. Looking back into those piercing blue eyes, his calmness blankets over me.

Taking one last deep breath, I nod. “Keep going.”

He stays hovering over me as he shifts his hips and gently glides the rest of the way in, never taking his eyes off mine.

When his hips bump against my ass, his full length being in me, it takes my breath away. He’s massive, stretching my hole so wide I whimper.

I’m so full .

The blue in Shane’s eyes have been swallowed up as he looks down at me, breathing heavily. “You’re so fucking tight. It’s like your ass is strangling my dick. It feels so good, but I need to move. Are you okay?” he pants.

I give my hips a little wiggle and feel him so deep, I think he’s in my stomach. The burn is still there but it’s not too uncomfortable.

“You can move,” I say as I relax as much as I can.

“Thank God.” He slowly pulls his hips back, almost all the way out, and pushes back in, building a slow rhythm. It’s better than anything I’ve ever experienced as the burn fades, replaced with delicious pleasure.

“Faster,” I moan as he hits my prostate.

He picks up his pace, slapping my ass with his hips on each thrust.

“Sh-Shane…Ngguhhh. I-I’m going to come.” I wither all around, delirious in the euphoria.

“Come for me beautiful. Come while I’m buried deep in this tight, pretty ass.” He thrusts once, twice, and hits my prostate on the third roll of his hips. The tingles that started in my legs, quickly shoot to my groin causing me to let out a deep moan as I cum hands-free all over my stomach. My ass squeezes him as cum keeps pulsing out of me.

“Yesss. Ugghh...Shit.” He pushes all the way into me and grabs my hips as he holds still filling the condom. He drops down on my cum covered chest, breathing heavily into my neck. “Give me a minute and I’ll get up to clean us.”

I rub his short brown hair, enjoying the best high I’ve ever had. I kiss the top of his head and kind of wish he would have worn his hat. That would have had me coming even quicker.

I start to doze off as cool air hits the wet cum on my stomach. I curl into a ball and blindly search for the blankets.

“Hold on baby, let me clean you off first.” His hands are warm and damp as he cleans me. “There you go, sweet boy.” He kisses my temple, and it’s lights out for me.

I wake sometime later to Shane sitting shirtless at his desk. He’s bent over a thick book with his pencil in his mouth. I watch as the muscles bunch in his back as he turns the page. I have a clear view of the bird on the side of his ribs. I think it’s a hawk or maybe a falcon. Its beak is open with angry black eyes and sharp talons stretched out like it’s about to scratch something. The details in it are amazing.

I slowly sit up and watch him for a few more minutes before I quietly climb from bed and walk up to him. I lightly brush my fingers over his shoulders and watch as a full-body shudder goes through him.

“Hey sleepy head,” he smiles up at me.

I bend to kiss him then look down at the book he’s studying. I don’t have the slightest clue as to what I’m looking at

“What are you studying?”

“This is for my kinesiology degree.” He points to the page with muscles and tendons. “I want to have a backup plan in case the NHL doesn’t work out or if I get injured early on. I’ll have this degree in my back pocket.”

He closes the book and turns the chair so I’m standing between his legs. He grabs my bare ass cheeks in each hand as he kisses the left side of my hip, drags his tongue along my lower stomach, and kisses the right side. “How are you feeling?”

I squeeze my cheeks at the dull ache around my hole. “I’m good. A little sore but it’s not too bad.”

“Good.” He stands up and walks me backward to his bed.

The backs of my thighs hit his mattress. I fall back, watching him follow as he leans over me with a soft smile.

“I’m happy you’re here, beautiful.” He pecks me on the lips. “What do you say we go check out that place I wanted to show you on your birthday?”

I try to think back to what he’s referring to, but I have no memory of him wanting to take me somewhere.

“I’m going to need some clothes.”

He laughs as he pulls me back up to stand. “I think I can find something for you to wear.” He holds my hand as we walk into his closet where he grabs two hoodies and pants. “You’ll have to go commando,” he whispers conspiratorially, pumping his eyebrows.

I snort as I take his clothes and get dressed. I’m drowning in them like I do with all his clothes, but they smell like him. After putting on a pair of his socks, I walk to him holding out my hand. He slides his fingers through mine with a bright smile. “Let’s go, beautiful.”

Ryder still isn’t back from running away from his burnt veggie burgers, so the condo is quiet as we put our shoes on and head down to Shane’s truck.

We climb in, turn up the local rock station, and head out to the main street. I still have no idea where we are but when I see the sign for the highway, my stomach drops a little. But he gets on the ramp heading west and not east towards Indiana where my father is.

I watch as the tall buildings along the busy five-lane highway turn into a calmer two-lane. We drive for about forty minutes when he exits. There’s nothing but trees on either side of the road as far as I can see. He drives for another ten minutes before turning onto a dirt road. We bounce over the bumpy road until I see a clearing up ahead. I sit up to get a better look.

There’s a huge lake with massive trees and stone cliffs on the either side with boats way out in the water. And there are so many colors. The stone cliffs are a mix of natural tans and browns with black running through them. The trees are every color you’d think of when you think of Fall. The sun is gleaming off the water making it appear clear. I jump from his truck as soon as it’s in park and make my way to the edge of the water.

There’s a loud bird call coming from one of the higher cliffs. It makes the call again then a bald eagle soars down and flies a few inches above the water. Its talons come out right before it drops into the water, coming out with a huge fish. It flaps its wings quickly as it flies back up to the top of the cliff.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Shane asks from a few feet behind me. I turn to find him with a large bag over his shoulder and a red and black checkered blanket over his forearm.

I walk up to him and take the blanket, lay it out on the grass and sit, taking in the scene from this viewpoint. Shane sits down next to me and hands me a flat rectangular box.

“What’s this?”

“Open it.” He pulls food containers from the bag and sets them out as I open the box.

I suck in a breath when I see a pack of premium pencils and a new sketchpad. I turn to him and kiss him. He wraps his arms around me when I pull back.

“You didn’t have to buy these for me. I have so many at home but thank you.” I kiss him again before sitting back down, facing the lake.

“I wanted to surprise you with them so you can capture the beauty here. Lily said these are the pencils you like and the guy at the art store said this is the best paper for sketching.”

This man.

“Thank you, Shane. Really.” He leans over and gives me a quick kiss then points to the food he set out.

“I had Asher pick these up for us while you were sleeping.”

It looks good but my fingers are itching to capture the beauty of this place. I nod as I open the sketchpad and pull out a graphite pencil. I begin a rough outline of everything then work on one section at a time as he feeds me.

I’m in the middle of drawing the bird’s nest in the tree off in the distance when Shane moves behind me. He sits with his legs on either side of mine with my ass up against his crotch. He places a hand in the center of my chest and pulls me back to lean on him. He lets out a sigh as he wraps me in his arms.

We stay here until the sun sets, turning the sky pink and orange. I wish I had my watercolors so I could paint this perfect sunset.

Once the sun drops below the tree line, we quickly lose light. I help Shane gather the food and grab the blanket. We walk hand in hand back to his truck. When he turns it on, the headlights shine on a deer and its fawn drinking from the spot we were sitting by. We watch them for a minutes before Shane backs out and heads down the dark road.

“Thank you for taking me here. It’s absolutely gorgeous.”

He smiles without taking his eyes off the bumpy road. “No problem. I figured you’d enjoy the serenity nature has.”

“How did you find a random lake in the middle of nowhere?”

A soft smile crosses his face as he makes his way back onto a solid road. “A professor I had sophomore year told us about it. She grew up out this way and the way she described the peacefulness that lake brought her, I had to see it for myself.” He chuckles lightly. “I missed that dirt road entrance three times because she never specified where it was. But once I pulled up, it was like my stress instantly disappeared. I remember taking in the deepest breath and holding the fresh air in my lungs until I couldn’t breathe.” He glances at me with a sweet smile. “It became my escape for when I need a break from life for a little while.”

As he merges onto the highway, I take in how beautiful he is. Inside and out. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Shane.”

He switches his hands around to hold the steering wheel with his left as his right lifts my hand to his mouth, kissing my knuckles. “I’m glad to be part of your life, beautiful.” He rests our hands on the center console for the rest of the ride back.

When we exit off the highway he stops at the red light and looks left then right. “Which way? Left to your place or right to mine?”

I don’t hesitate. “Right.”

He kisses my knuckles again as he turns towards his condo.