Page 10 of Unexpected Adventures

“What’s going on in the beautiful head of yours?”

“You don’t want to know.” I take another drink, realizing the bottle is now empty. “Was this bottle full when I picked it up?”

Shaun laughs. “Yes. Yes, it was.”

“Huh,” was all I reply. I set the bottle down, plopping myself back against the chair. “As you can probably tell, I’m not much of a drinker.”

“No?Guess a swim isn’t in order.”

I look out over Sherri’s yard, watching the guests. I catch sight of Denise, looking gorgeous in a chocolate bikini with gold hoops worked into the design. She’s standing with an attractive older man. Well, older than my age, I’d say, but not as old as Dad. They seem to be in an intense conversation, when suddenly, she throws her head back in laughter.

“She’s so happy,” I say, more to myself.

“And what about you?” Shaun asks.

“About that swim?” I say, avoiding the real topic he meant. The topic everyone seems to want me to contemplate. Well, that is if Sylvia and Denise qualify as everyone, and in my world, they pretty much are. Besides which…

“There is that,” he says, pulling me out of the wanderings in my mind. “About your…”

“Yes, let’s go for a swim,” I interject with too much cheer, cutting him off before he can start in on the subject of my happiness. I spring up from the chair only to find myself swaying a bit. Thankfully, there’s a column to grab hold of for balance.

Wait, what? When did that column get there? I look up to realize I’m holding on to Shaun. Or rather, he’s holding on to me. My hand is just resting against his chest. His very warm and muscular chest, the details of which I can feel through the thin material of his shirt.

“Why don’t we take a rain check on that swim,” Shaun says.

“I really am fine. I’m not drunk at all.” Not all the way, just on my way there.

“I don’t think you’re drunk.”

“Yes, you do, or else you wouldn’t be acting all gentlemanly right now.”

“Gentlemanly? Is that what I’m doing?” His free hand makes its way up my arm, toying with the braid over my shoulder.

“I think so. Aren’t you?”Is he playing games with me?Maybe I’m more on my way to Drunktown than I thought.

He looks into my eyes, gazes down to my lips, then back to my eyes. “If I were a gentleman, I wouldn’t be having such delicious thoughts about how your lips would feel against mine.”

I run my tongue across my lower lip as I now stare at his lips. “Well, I’ve already thought how luscious your lips are, so I gotcha beat on that one.” My head pops up, my eyes widen. “Oh my God, I just said that aloud, didn’t I?”

Shaun chuckles. “Sure did.”

“I barely know you. You barely know me. Maybe I am drunk.” I plop myself back down onto the chair, reluctantly breaking contact with his chest. “I’m sorry.”

Shaun lowers himself beside me and softly says, “No need to be sorry. Nothing wrong with being attracted to a person. I already said I was attracted to you.”

“But you don’t even know me. What if I’m some nutcase with too many cats stashed away back at my apartment? You don’t strike me as a cat person. Not that that’d matter. Well, maybe it does…”

No further words escape me as he lightly presses his lips to mine. I don’t react. That is, until he places his hand on the side of my face, pulls back to look into my oh-so-wide-eyes, grins, and comes back for more. He deepens the kiss just a fraction, giving me every reason to believe he likes it.

And so do I. Like it, that is. I react. Slanting my head to give our noses plenty of clearance from one another, I dive in. If I wasn’t going to swim in the pool, I was certainly going to swim in his yummy kisses. And yummy they are. A hint of beer remains, mixing with his unique taste.

I hear him moan. Or is that me? Yep, thatisme.

His tongue teases my lips, a light brushing, but enough to make me open for him. He dips in, swirling his tongue with mine, already driving me crazy. Now it’s his turn to moan as my tongue does battle with his. My arms reach for him, my hands finding their way into his hair, raking his scalp. His arms circle my waist, the warmth from the palm of his hands pressing into my lower back.

Holy cannoli. What is happening? I’ve barely known this man for an hour and I’m ready to devour him.

Reluctantly, I pull back, catching my breath. With my head bowed, I’m afraid to make eye contact. I feel him kiss the top of my head.

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