Page 59 of Love Off Course

This woman.

Goddamn, she drives me crazy.

Crazy with need. She’s such a far cry from the woman who insulted me the day I met her. Now she’s carefree and smiling. I want to keep her. Seems like such a simple notion. But it’s not that simple. I’m not sure how to make our stories align so that they weave together. It feels impossible without sacrifice. I’m not sure either of us has it in us to make that sacrifice. Not on a chance. A maybe. A feeling. That’s all this is, right?

My gut tells me otherwise.

My brain tells me to pump the brakes.

My heart’s already a goner.

Fuck.

After two giant margaritas for her and the one beer I’ve been nursing, we eat our food and then pay. I take her out on the dance floor, no longer able to simply watch her. I need her in my arms. “La Bamba” by Son Jarocho plays loudly on the speakers and Sheridan starts dancing like this is her song. I’m amused as she wriggles her ass, her hooded eyes on me. I clutch her hips, twist her around so that her back is flush with my chest, and then I start moving my hips. She pushes her ass against me, verymuch aware of what she does to me based on the Texas-sized boner I have. I caress her hips through her thin dress, playfully teasing the fabric up.

She lifts her arms up in the air. I can’t help but run my palms down her arms, along her ribs, and back to her hips. The dance quickly turns erotic. My thoughts are pure sex. I want her so fucking badly.

For one more night.

The clench in my stomach is painful. One night left with a girl who makes me question everything doesn’t feel like enough. I want to spend every night with her, coaxing out her smiles, riling her up, and kissing her pouty lips.

She turns around and then slides her palms up my chest to my neck. Our mouths meet for a needy kiss. I grab her ass in a possessive way that lets every male in here know who she belongs to. We kiss with a desperation that cannot be squelched. Every lash of our tongues only makes us needier and greedier.

“You in love yet?” I tease against her lips.

“Not yet, but there’s still time. I want to spend that time alone with you.”

My dick hears her sexy purr loud and clear. I kiss her once more because she’s too pretty and sweet not to before grabbing her hand. We bail, both of us eager to do more. I help her into the Jeep and then peel out of the parking lot.

“I had a fun time today,” she says, reaching over.

Her small offering of her hand makes my heart stutter in my chest. Days ago, this girl was as frigid as they come, and now she’s giving parts of her to me that I’m sure she’s never given anyone. It makes me crazy possessive. Like I could keep her forever.

After threading my fingers with hers, I relax for the drive back. “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” by The Policecomes on the radio. She sings along as she kicks her dirty feet up on the dash. I love how relaxed she is. Living in the moment.

I told her she was going to fall in love with me.

I’d been partially joking.

Joke was on me, though.

I’m the one completely losing all sense of reality over this girl.

Rather than driving straight back, I take a detour to one of my favorite haunts. When I was a teenager, I used to terrorize my hometown. I’d drive my Jeep all over and get into whatever trouble I could drum up with my cousins and some of my friends. We were daredevils, always jumping off cliffs, racing dirt bikes, and swimming as deep as we could go in the ocean without drowning. When I wanted a job away from my mom and the hotel, I got one helping Alejandro. Since he was a good buddy of Dad’s, he took me under his proverbial wings while giving me my own. I’d gone from adrenaline junkie, to desperately wanting to fly airplanes. I didn’t stop from there.

I flew.

Right through life.

Right out of Tahueca.

This is the first time I’ve wanted to land. To pause time and not go. To relax my crazy beating heart and enjoy the moment.

I pull up to one of the cliffside campsites people often come to when traveling through. Luckily, no one is here tonight. Once I park, I scoop Sheridan out of the front seat, loving when she giggles. I carry her to a bench and sit with her still in my arms. She snuggles against me, her hot breath tickling my neck.

“Another sight?”

“You wanted to see them all,” I remind her. “Miss World Traveler. What do you think?”

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