‘A simple man with simple tastes.’
‘Who are you calling simple?’
She laughed, and the sound was like music in the night. It did something to my heart, making it feel like it might burst out of my chest. She was so beautiful, even with a smear of pink marshmallow beside her mouth. I stepped forward and touched her face, cupping her chin in my palm, carefully wiping the smear away with my thumb. She stopped laughing and held her breath, her eyes on mine.
‘You had a little…’ I said by way of explanation, pulling my hand away.
She caught it in hers, then delicately licked the marshmallow off my thumb. My breath hitched in my throat when her tongue touched my skin. It was all the invitation I needed, and before I knew what I was doing I had stepped forward and cupped her face again, with both of my hands this time. Her body came up short against my chest and she reached for me, her hands scooping behind my head, her fingers threading through my hair, pulling my face down to hers.
We kissed, slowly at first, our mouths finding their way, exploring, remembering. As they did, our urgency grew. I felt it as her need matched my own, both of us trying to get closer, hands on faces, in hair, around waists, before I felt hers lift the hem of my jersey, sliding beneath, her skin against the skin of my stomach.
‘Mae,’ I groaned into her mouth, arching my back, feeling her hips push back against mine. Summoning every single ounce of willpower that I had, I gently extricated myself, regretting it immediately. ‘I think we should call it a night.’
The look she gave me was a mix of confusion and hurt, and I moved to swiftly reassure her.
‘Don’t get me wrong,’ I groaned into her hair. ‘I want this, believe me; I want this more than you could ever believe.’
‘But you still want to leave me?’ she mumbled into my chest.
I sighed, breathing in the strawberry scent of her hair. ‘I meant what I said earlier, that I’m falling for you. This,us, it feels special to me, and that’s different to anything I’ve ever felt before. I don’t want to rush this. I don’t want to rushyou.’
‘I can make decisions for myself you know.’
‘I know. But are you sure you’re ready for this?’
She was silent for a few moments, then sighed. ‘I don’t know. I thought I was, but maybe you’re right. Maybe we should wait. There’s no rush I suppose.’
‘I want the first time with you to be as special as you are. As special as you deserve. And I don’t want it to be on this night, after my family were so awful to you. It’s left a bitter taste in my mouth.’
‘I can understand that. As long as it’s not because you don’t find me attractive after all?’ It was said in jest, I could tell – a lighthearted attempt to lighten the mood. But it came out feebly and with a tiny undercurrent of self-doubt that I knew I needed to dispel immediately.
I lifted her chin with my thumb and forefinger so she could see how serious I was. ‘You’re kidding, right? If you knew how hard it is for me to not pick you up right now, carry you inside and have my wicked way with you, you’d understand.’
She smiled. ‘In that case, I can wait.’
25
MAE
I’d barely opened the door to him the next morning before he had me against the wall, his mouth on mine, his hand around my waist pulling me in towards him. Not that I was complaining. It was a better way to start the day than my usual alarm clock.
‘I’ve been fantasizing about doing that since I left you,’ he said when we finally broke apart for breath.
‘But last night, you said…’
‘Last night was hours ago, and I’ve done a lot of brooding since then.’ He pouted. ‘Because of you, I had to take a cold shower at three in the morning.’
I smirked, feeling smug. Any last traces I’d had of self-doubt since he’d pulled the brakes the night before right as things were starting to get hot and heavy, disappeared. ‘Serves you right. I didn’t exactly sleep all that well myself.’
‘Good.’ He pushed off the wall behind me and looked me up and down. ‘Hey, you’re already dressed.’
‘Told you, I couldn’t sleep. Been up since five. Even took a walk along the beach hoping the cold would wake me up. It worked.’ I pulled a face. ‘Well, that and the two coffees I’ve already had.’
‘Yeah, I stopped in at the Café on Main on my way here and got a cup of the strongest coffee they sell too. Have you been there yet?’
I shook my head.
‘Damn. As your official Pine Harbor tour guide, I’m slacking. For a meal or a drink, you can’t beat The Cozy Catch. But for breakfast or brunch, Café on Main is the place to go. Remind me to take you there for breakfast one day. Their blueberry pancakes are the best in the whole of Maine.’
