Oh, God. I force a smile. I completely forgot. Something tells me today is going to test my fear of heights in a whole new way. Why—whydid I ever mention hot air balloons? Crap! I’m going to pass out on this date all right. Let’s just hope I don’t fall to my death in the process. Is it even legal to put human beings in a basket attached to an oversized balloon? Maybe he just wants to watch—safely from the ground with our feet firmly planted on God’s green earth.
He pulls into a parking space that readsdeparting passengers only. And, there’s that.
Blake helps me out and nods to the sky. “You up for an adventure today?”
Will you be joining me on this adventure?I coyly point my phone at him.
“Yes.” His brows dip, and his smile is lustful and sexy and a thousand things I’m pretty sure my brothers would never ever approve of.
I’m in.
Blake and I head inside the tiny office and purchase tickets before we watch a brief instructional video. Our pilot leads us out and helps me over the basket. No door. No bathroom. Two things that distinguish us from the animals I want to say but don’t. I give a brief smile to the sky because this is one nightmare I’ve dragged myself into.
“Are you okay?” Blake leans into me with that dark hair, those demanding eyes, and all of my fears melt like butter. Well, almost. The very real fear of breaking my neck in an accidental fall is still holding ground.
I give a slight nod, and, without thinking, my arms slip around his waist. The balloon starts to wobble, and, before we know it, we’re levitating off the ground. The rush of wind blows my hair wild, and I turn slightly to get it off my face. Blake slowly wraps his arms around me, and I lean into his warm chest as all of Jepson, the colorful patches of maples and oaks blur beneath us like a watercolor. Blake points to the north where the entire hillside is alive with autumn splendor—a breathless rainbow of fire—a world whose beauty you truly need a bird’s eye view to fully appreciate.
I pull out my phone.I can’t believe how beautiful this is. Thank you. I would never have been brave enough to do this without you.
His face inches back a bit as if he didn’t believe it. “You make me brave.” An incredible sadness pulls down his features as he says it. He glances over at the pilot who kindly mans the ship from the other side of the basket. I suppose he’s used to giving couples their share of privacy although I hardly think Blake and I qualify as an official couple.
His grip around me tightens, and it’s only then I truly grasp the fact that Blake and I are holding one another—granted it might have started out as holding on for dear life, but his hands warm over my back, his legs sit tight against mine. It feels different now, like something more.
Blake leans back, examining me with a serious look of intent as if he’s seeing me for the very first time.
A burst of fire explodes over his shoulder as the balloon rises even higher.
Blake’s forehead creases, and his brows dip into a perfect V formation. My insides quiver at how disarmingly handsome he is. Blake could be in this hot air balloon with any girl of his choosing, and it’s almost impossible to believe I’m the girl he chose.
“Can I kiss you?” He says the words extra slow, determined that I understand.
My heart stops. I swallow hard, mustering just enough strength to nod yes.
Blake presses out a brief smile before leaning in with short staccato moves, and my body pulses with a heartbeat all its own. My stomach threatens to shoot out of my skull. My knees grow weak—my breathing picks up until I’m panting right into him.
Blake comes to me and brushes his lips ever so softly over mine, light as air, and my lids flutter open wondering if it happened at all.
I twist my lips holding back a smile as he tweaks his brows in a devious manner.
“How about another?” Blake leans in, and I close my eyes. His lips glide over mine, harder this time, and he lingers.
My insides burn bright with a blaze all their own, and I can feel a moan creeping up my throat. I want this. I’ve wanted this since the moment I looked into his beautiful eyes that first day.
The wind whips around us. The basket vibrates from the burner blasting in the background.
Blake lightens up as if he might pull away, and I press my hand to the back of his neck, holding him there right where he belongs. A vibrating tingle comes from his lips to mine, and I hope it’s an approving moan. He’s taking it slow, very slow, and as much as I appreciate it, I want him to know that I won’t break. He can kiss me how he really wants, as fast and furious as his body demands. My mouth falls open just enough to throw out the invitation, and Blake dives in slowly. His tongue mingles softly with mine, and it takes all of my self-control not to vocalize a thousand heartfelt groans. Blake moves in me with slow meandering strokes, then in a quick burst of passion that makes it feel as if this kiss alone has the power to float the ship. I make my way into his mouth, and his fingers dig hard into my hips. His chest rises and falls over mine, and it feels like more than I ever thought it could. I’m pretty sure every first kiss doesn’t hold this magic. It can’t. This is different. This is something special just for Blake and me.
We pull apart, and I look up at him from under my lashes. Blake smiles wide and lands a gentle peck over the apple of my check. He holds me tight, and I lay my head over his chest just watching the kaleidoscope of colors below as the world lies silent beneath our feet. This is a golden moment—far more romantic than any romance novel I’ve ever read.
This is real.
Blake and I are real.
Blake
The sky warmsa brilliant shade of burgundy as the hot air balloon touches the ground. It took a hell of a lot of self-control not to keep my mouth planted over hers the entire time. That kiss was everything I knew it would be and more. I wanted Annie’s first kiss to be special, to be memorable, and I knew that I’d have to cap it after one, so the hot air balloon seemed the logical answer.
We head to the truck, and the last thing I want is to drive Annie back to the dorm.
