STORY EXCERPT

“I like to spend time outside. I like to go where animals are and watch them. I guess that I’m kind of a nature buff.”

“I used to like those things. When I was younger, my friends used to do bonfires on the beach. I haven’t been to one of those lately.”

“I like the beach at night; it has a very serene quality to it. It is nice just to sit and listen to the sounds of waves.”

“I agree.” As if his words had brought the sounds to life in her mind, Ever closed her eyes and heard them resounding through her brain. It was the soft slap of the water, the unrolling of a wave as it crashed against the shore. It had always struck her as soothing and she suddenly missed it.

Carmen gently touched her cheek, his finger swishing over her skin. Ever frowned and open her eyes, seeing that his fingertip was wet. “Did I say something to upset you?”

“No. That’s odd. I was just thinking about the beach. I guess I have many memories there, and it is sad that they have now faded to the back of my mind.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Wanna blow this joint and go there now? I’m sure someone will have a fire. It’s a beautiful night.”

He had no idea how badly she wanted to say yes, but she couldn’t. It would be insanity to go to the beach, alone, with a man she had just met.

“I promise that I’m not a serial killer.” He seemed to suddenly perk up as if struck by a revelation. “Actually, the summer carnival is going on. Do you want to go? I remember reading about it in the paper.”

She had read the same thing. It would be fun and a great way to get to know him better without being dangerously alone with him. “I would love to.”

He spun the stool, hopping down. “Cool. Then let’s go.”

Ever took a deep breath. She had come in Mini’s car, and it meant that she would have to let him drive. There was something so compelling about his company that she was suddenly ready to risk it. She needed some excitement in her life.

* * * *

In her mind, the carnival zipped by at the speed of light. Before she knew it, she was lying on the beach with him, the moonlight playing off the waves. Carmen rolled to his side, his finger drifting over her lips. He had such strong fingers, but his touch was as gentle as silk.

“Do you believe in love at first sight?”

Ever shrugged. She supposed it was possible. “I guess.”

“Good, because I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. I imagined that we would be perfect together, and now I know it. You are perfect.”

She was glad that he couldn’t see the blush of her cheeks in full light. Ever was not accustomed to compliments of such magnitude. Carmen rolled further into her body, the strong feel of his chest like steel against her side as he kissed her. In a questioning gesture, he slowly slid his hand up the front of her shirt. She should stop him, but his touch was intoxicating and she didn’t want to. The brush of his palm over the fabric of her bra made her dizzy, a soft moan of pleasure leaking from her throat to be trapped by the crush of his mouth. The kiss became more vibrant, his tongue swishing and swaying against her own in a brush of wet flesh.

In a rush of unexpected vibrancy, he slid his hand to her back and pulled her to his body. She could feel the hardness of him crushed against her breasts, his taut, almost-heavy leg draping over her as she felt the swell of his cock beneath his jeans. He wanted her as much as she wanted him, but it was wrong. It was too soon, her body was melting with his touch, her pussy feeling like molten lava as it rapidly bubbled with pleasure. It was all happening too fast, her lust was swelling as quickly as his dick, and it overwhelmed her with an undeniable craving for more.

Releasing his hold on her, he laid her back to the sand. It was such a warm night, the moon sending a singular gold band across the ripples of the dark waves. Carmen caught her eyes; his seemed to glow in the night, boring into her brain and arousing her even further. It had been so long since she allowed herself to feel so completely wanted, and it felt wonderful.

She put her fingers to his face, feeling the soft stubble of the late hour. It had gotten late, the sounds from the festival fading in the distance. “I want you so bad, Ever.”

She wanted him also, but she didn’t know him. Would he take her as the final crescendo to a lovely, exciting evening and then never contact her again? Did she really care? She wanted to see him again, spend more time with him, but her body craved him in an unimaginable way. Ever suddenly knew that if she gave herself to him, on the wilds of this deserted stretch of beach, it would be a night that she never forgot. “I want you, too.”

ADULT EXCERPT

Carmen stalked up her body, reminding her of a large, dangerous komodo dragon. His elbows were turned out to the sides, his tongue flicking in and out in a completely enthralling manner. She giggled, and he shook his head viciously and hissed at her. “You find me amusing?”

“A little.”

His entire façade wilted, his bottom lip hanging before he began to pout. “Only a little. I was trying for a lot.”

Sitting up, she shoved him back so he was kneeling on her calves. Her hands went to his face, stroking the skin and making note that he had recently shaved. Carmen was a hairy beast when he didn’t take the time to clean his cheeks. His chest was heavily haired also, but it was soft and slightly curled in a very nice way. “I find you very dangerous and very amusing. I love you and everything you do is perfect.”

“Everything?”

How she loved his smile and the challenging look in his beautiful eyes. “Of course. You can do no wrong in my eyes. Well…you can, but you give me no reason to suspect that you do.”

“What could I do that would be wrong?”

“Cheat on me.”

“Never!”

“Hit me.”

He wilted again, his shoulders visibly sagging. “Why would you even think of that? I would never ever hit you.”

“You asked what you could do and I’m telling you.”

“Okay. Anything else?”

“Not that I can think of at the moment. How about not make love to me.”

Putting his palm to the center of her chest, he pushed her flat to the mattress. “I’m getting to that. Are you in a hurry?”

“Kind of. I have to go home tonight.”

“No, you don’t. You need to stay with me. I’m tired of sleeping alone. Move in with me, Ever. I want to wake up every morning with you in my arms. I want us to stay together for always.”

“Are you asking me to marry you?” she asked in a teasing tone.

“What I’m talking about is a more permanent option.”

What could be more permanent than marriage? “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I’m not sure it’s something that I want to explain more completely right now. Give us a little time. I want to make sure.”

Ever had no idea what he was talking about. Carmen was occasionally reclusive and secretive, and this was one of those times. He claimed that he loved her, but he was keeping secrets from her, and it bothered her. “Just to let you know, if you want a more permanent relationship, then you need to tell me the truth of things.”

“I know. I will in time. Right now, I want to make love to you for the rest of the night. You are not going home. Period.”

This was another look that she had come to know well over the last three months. It was Carmen’s end-of-subject look. She could debate him until the end of time, and he would not let her go home. She supposed that it really wasn’t all that important. She just needed to call her mother and let her know. They had met Carmen and really liked him. That was a serious plus in her book. She valued her parents’ opinions on things. They were usually very good judges of character.

Carmen dropped dramatically over her, landing on his hands as he flipped his feet to the back. He was a spectacularly dramatic man with a flair for excitement. Taking his sweet time, he slowly bent his arms, lowering himself to her lips. His tongue flicked like the lizard again, tapping her lips repeatedly without ever connecting his mouth to hers. It was an odd feeling that sent strands of sensation into her mouth each time he touched her.

Ever grabbed his long hair, pulling him down to her face to kiss him. She nibbled on his bottom lip, holding it between her teeth for a moment before releasing it softly. She wanted to bite him everywhere, his lips, his ears, his tiny pink nipples. Carmen tasted so good.

Leaning back on his elbows, he gazed into her eyes. “I love you so much. I want you with me always.”

“I want to be with you always.”

“Really?”

It was a strange question in the tone that he asked it, and somehow it seemed wrong. Ever couldn’t quite shake the feeling that she had been here before. She had been with Carmen at the very moment of this, what was it? Was this a memory or a dream or both? Was she sleeping or awake? Ever wasn’t sure. Yet, there was something suddenly wrong about this, but she wasn’t quite sure why.

His hands went to her cheeks, caressing her skin as if he feared that he would never feel it again. “Would you marry me if I asked?”

“Yes. I would love to. Ask me.”

“I already told you that I have something more permanent in mind.”

His lips touched hers, hot and wet, his tongue capturing her own, encircling it in the most wonderful way. Her body began to heat with glorious sensations, her mind drifting in the feel of his muscular chest against his own. She trailed her fingers up his arms, the light hair snagging slightly on her nails. His biceps were like iron and he flexed them for her enjoyment. Ever grabbed the flesh, caressing it with her palms and then moving up into his beautiful hair. She adored the feel of his hard body, the enticing roll of his tongue. It scraped against the inside of her mouth and then he leaned back slightly, nipping her top lip and drawing it between his own.

Releasing her flesh, he rained kissed on her face, down her throat, and she leaned her head back to give him full access. She felt the hard rise of his cock and began to stroke his legs with her feet. Lifting his head again, he gazed at her as if she was a fleeting star in the dark night sky. It was such a longing expression that she didn’t remember seeing before. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. You are so beautiful. You take my breath away.” The words alone took her arousal up a notch. She wanted him inside her, his dick pressing and swaying within her pussy.