He must have felt me tense up because he whispered, “Hey, hey, now. We may only have a few days here, but we have all the time in the world to get to know each other. To be with each other. I don’t want to rush us as we become us.”
A faint smile tugged at my lips. “Okay.”
He brushed his lips against my temple. In a graceful move I wouldn’t have expected from such a large man, he rose to his feet. He held out his hand to me, and I placed mine in his. He gently tugged me upward and against him, where we cuddled for long moments.
“There’s also the fact that…well, I like to be in control,” he said.
I tipped my head back and looked at him. “What do you mean?”
He hesitated, clearly trying to choose the right words. “In the bedroom, I like to be in charge.”
“Okay. That doesn’t seem to be a dealbreaker.”
“I hope it isn’t. We’ll explore it when we’re ready.” He offered me a smile.
I smiled back. “I like everything we’ve done together, Lennon. I don’t think you wanting to tell me what to do during sex is going to change that.” In fact, part of me found the idea comforting and exciting. Being slightly awkward, I’d always spent too much time in my head to fully relax and go with the moment.
“To sleep with you now, so we can get up and out tomorrow,” he said, all business.
“Is this part of you being in control?” I raised an eyebrow.
He considered the question before nodding. “Yeah, I think it is.”
“So…what do you want to do?” I asked. “After I get a nice sleep tonight?”
He side-eyed me as he finished folding the blanket, a smile tugging at his lips. “As long as it’s with you, I’ll be happy.”
Chapter 4
Chapter
Lennon
* * *
The next day was clear, bright, and just the faintest bit crisp—a perfect day for a hike, which led Vivian and me on gentle switchbacks up to a rise above the lake. We sat on a sun-warmed boulder at a deep blue pond surrounded by green trees while white clouds reflected on the mirrored surface. I turned to look at Vivian, who had leaned back on her palms. She wore khaki shorts that showed some of her creamy, well-defined thighs, and an elbow-length T-shirt in a pale pink. She looked fresh and sweet and fit—absolutely perfect.
“It’s so pretty up here,” she said.
“It is,” I agreed.
She smiled, flashing a faint dimple, as she continued to look at the view, and I continued to look at her. “Eyes on the prize, Lennon.”
“They are.”
She laughed, a bright, cheery sound that had me cracking a grin. She placed her palm in the center of my chest and kissed me. My arms came around her as I settled into the moment.
Falling in love was everything I’d hoped it would be but better. I was so enthralled, I almost skipped my way back down the trail. We snacked on local cherries, cheese, and crackers at a picnic table at the lake’s edge.
“Ooh, how do you feel about a canoe ride?” Vivian asked as we passed the stack of boats.
“Not sure I’ll fit,” I said.
“Oh, you’re not that big,” she said.
I smirked. She flushed and bit her lip. I took pity on her and said, “I’ve always wanted to canoe.”
“Me, too. Do you understand the paddling? That confuses me.”
