When dinner was over, and dessert had been demolished, I looked up at the head waiter and nodded my head. I had arranged something special for the two of us before she got there. She watched curiously as the staff descended onto the floor and began moving tables, stacking chairs and clearing out an empty space right in the middle of the room. They took the candles from the other tables and created a ring of flickering light around the makeshift dance floor. It was gorgeous, and I was pleasantly surprised at how romantic a hometown Mexican restaurant could be. It was something unexpected, and from the sparkle in Sara’s eye, I knew she was impressed.
The hostess fiddled with something at the front counter, and then music began to play from the speakers. It was instrumental, flowing, and had a bit of a Mexican flare to it. It wasn’t necessarily my first choice for music to dance to with Sara, but I had pulled all this together in a few hours, so it was the best I had. I put my napkin on the table and reached across. She put her hand in mine and smiled.
“Would you like to dance?”
“I would love to,” she answered. “Though I didn’t really wear my dancing shoes.”
I laughed. “I’ll give you a break this time. I’ll take the lead.”
“Oh,” she said with feigned shock. “What a gentleman.”
We stood, and I held her hand, walking her out to the dance floor. When I reached the center, I pulled her into me, taking one hand in mine and wrapping the other around her waist. We swayed together slowly to the sound of the music, and I loved the way she felt in my arms. The gentle movements of her body washed away the tough façade she always put on and made her seem more feminine, more fragile in my arms. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and I could have danced with her there in my arms all night long.
“This is nice,” she sighed, leaning her head forward on my shoulder.
“It is, isn’t it?” I smiled. “It’s nice being here together with no more stressful worries, just a normal life.”
“I don’t know if I would call renting out an entire restaurant normal.” She giggled. “There are going to be a lot of angry towners in the morning who didn’t get their Friday night chimichanga.”
“Oh, the mob will come after me.” I laughed.
“Pitchforks, torches and all,” she said, leaning back and smiling at me.
“You know, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” she said. “But I think you drank the Bonanza Kool-Aid. I am not the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“To me, you are.” I smiled.
“Then, that’s all that matters,” she said with dewy eyes looking up at me.
I leaned in and gently kissed her lips, pulling her close to me. It was sweet and romantic, and the first time lust hadn’t been driving me. I just wanted to kiss her, to show her how much I cared, to make her feel loved, protected, and warm. I wanted her to know exactly what she meant to me, even if words were failing me right at that moment.
We danced for about a half an hour, silently pressed together, listening to the music, swaying to our own beat. We were lost together, and it had been the first time we had time like that to ourselves without crazy sheriffs or paparazzi chasing us down. Neither one of us felt the need to look over our shoulders, and we were finally able to relax and enjoy each other. I could tell things were going to be okay, that we were finally going to have our chance to be together without anyone getting in the way. When the song ended, I pulled back and looked into her eyes.
“Will you come and stay with me tonight at the hotel? I don’t want this night to end yet. It’s too perfect,” I said with a smile.
“I would love to,” she said. “And I was thinking that exact thing. We haven’t had time together like this ever, and I’m not ready to let it end either.”
“Perfect.” I smiled. “Let me take care of the bill, and we can walk over there.”
“Okay,” she said sweetly.
They already had my card and were waiting on the side with a pen to sign the receipt. I made sure to leave a very generous tip, one that would cover what they normally made on a Friday night times three. They all thanked me repeatedly, waving at Sara as we left. We walked hand in hand through the warm night air to the hotel and up to my room. There was a sweet tension between us, almost nervous like it was the first time. When we got inside, I closed the door and walked forward, running my hands down her arms. I squeezed them tightly and leaned in, kissing her gently at first, but as the emotions began to boil, I tightened my grip and leaned into her. She whimpered lightly as I released her, putting her arms around my neck and not letting my lips go. She tasted like strawberries and tequila, and her perfume smelled like lavender. She was intoxicating in every way.
We stood there for several minutes, kissing, touching, and enjoying our uninterrupted moments together. Normally, I would have been on the watch, waiting for something to go wrong, but that night, I felt completely uninhibited. There wasn’t a worry on my mind, and instead, my focus was completely and totally on Sara. As my lips moved across hers, I reached up and flicked the light off, bringing my hand to the front of her shirt. Slowly, I began to unbutton it, pulling it open and gently rubbing my hands over her skin. She breathed heavily, and the passion started to simmer between us. Even so, I wanted to take my time. I didn’t want to rush it. I wanted to make love to her, bring her pleasure she had never before known, and be there with her as her partner.
I leaned down and scooped her up in my arms and walked toward the bed. She leaned back and looked deeply into my eyes, and I could feel the electricity shoot through my chest. I had fallen madly and deeply in love with this woman.
Chapter 62
Sara
As we stood staring into each other’s eyes, my heart beat frantically in my chest. Everything was so romantic, so sensual, nothing like the hot, lusty sex we usually had. Every single one of my nerves was standing on end, waiting for his next move. I felt so close to him after having such a perfect evening. It was like we were an actual couple, not just two people struggling to be together. It was a new feeling, but I liked it, and I didn’t want it to end.
He lowered me down to the bed and began to undress me, taking his time to kiss my skin whenever a piece of clothing came off. I watched him, rubbing my hand through his hair, feeling the need to pull him into me but giving the space for him to express himself. I could tell by his movements that he really cared, that he really wanted to be there in that moment with me. He took off his shirt and pants, adjusting his hard-on in his boxers. He grabbed a pillow and threw it down on the floor before kneeling beside the edge of the bed. He stroked my legs, massaging the tense muscles, grabbing me by the hips, and gently pulling me forward. He lifted each of my legs and pulled them up over his shoulders, looking up at me with darkened eyes.
I could feel the anticipation in my body as he lowered his head down and reached forward, spreading my folds. He dipped his head down and gently rolled his tongue up through my lips, gently swirling it around my clit. I gripped the comforter beside me and closed my eyes, moaning softly at the sensation of his warm tongue. Over and over, he lapped at my pussy, bringing the heat to my stomach. I could feel every inch of his mouth lapping at me, swirling gently around my clit. He paused, pulling my swollen nub into his mouth and gently tapping it with his tongue. I moaned loudly, stretching my body. My hands moved slowly up to my breasts, and I grabbed them, massaging them tenderly as he pushed me closer to climax. When he reached his hand up and began to rub my clit, I was done for, every part of my body stiffening. I screamed out in pleasure, throwing my head back and arching my chest forward. My body swelled as the waves of pleasure bolted through me.
I could feel my thighs shaking next to his head, and I jolted, feeling his mouth pull at my clit. I reached down and grabbed his head, laughing and moaning at the same time. He looked up at me and smiled, wiping his lips and standing up. I watched as he pulled off his boxer briefs revea
ling his strong, tight muscles cascading down in a v to his thick, hard cock. I licked my lips and reached for him, not wanting to wait. He crawled onto the bed and reached down, turning me on my stomach. I got up on all fours, and then sat up on my knees, feeling him scooting closer to me. He leaned me forward just a bit, and I grabbed tightly to the headboard.
He pulled his dick forward, smoothed it through my soft skin, and pushed deep, penetrating me fully. I gasped, throwing my head back and moaning as he held tightly to me, raising up slightly as he pushed and lowering as he retracted. In and out, over and over, I could feel his huge shaft sliding effortlessly through my warm juices. He groaned, pulling my body up and down in synchronized motions, kissing the skin on my shoulder. He breathed deeply as he began to move faster, pushing hard and then pausing deep inside of me. Slowly, he lowered one hand down and rubbed it gently over my clit, cupping my pussy. I groaned, tightening my hold on the bed, feeling the passion that was flowing through us.
He ran his lips over my back and leaned back, plunging his cock into me over and over, with short, hard bursts. My body writhed, twisting up and down, back and forth, the ecstasy of the moment overwhelming. When he began to slow, I released my hands and leaned back against his chest, turning my head and kissing him passionately. Slowly, I turned toward him, feeling his hands roll over me as he gently laid me back on the bed. He took my hands and wrapped them around the metal rods of the headboard as he dragged his over my tits and groped me feverishly. Heat blazed in his eyes as he scooted down and lifted my waist, grabbing his shaft and guiding it through my juices. He pushed hard and deep, releasing a loud moan from my chest. Over and over he slammed into me, slowly retracting and then pushing hard again. I grunted with every thrust, feeling his body rolling over my clit.
After a few moments, he leaned forward and grabbed onto the rail above my hands and pressed his lips against mine. He pushed his legs out behind him and began to grind against me, pulling a heat that I hadn’t felt before. He stared down into my eyes as we both moved closer to climax. His mouth opened, and he growled, moving faster, rubbing up and down my body. Just as the heat reached its explosive end, he looked down into my eyes.
“I love you,” he whispered before throwing his head back and groaning, releasing the orgasm trapped inside.
The feeling of his cock pulsing inside of me pushed me over as well, and we lay orgasming hard, feeling the push and pull of our bodies against each other. When the orgasm had subsided, he let out a deep breath and rolled over on his side. I wasn’t exactly sure what to say and part of me wondered if he had told me he loved me out of lust during the heat of the moment or if he truly meant it. I turned my head and looked at him, watching a smile move over his lips. He leaned forward and kissed me before pulling back and collapsing into the pillow. Almost instantly, he fell asleep, curled up beside me in the bed. I reached down and pulled the covers over us, turning toward him and watching him as he slept. He was so handsome, so strong, but at the same time, I could see a frailty in him that I had never noticed before.
I groaned softly, smiling sweetly at whatever he was dreaming about at the moment. I couldn’t help see the young boy in him lying there, tender and gentle, wrapped up in the blankets. My heart swelled, feeling the love surging through me. I wanted to tell him too. I wanted him to know, but at the moment, I had blanked. I did love him, there was no question in my mind, and if he truly meant that he loved me, too, then things were definitely headed in a much different direction than they had started. I was okay with that. It was the first time in my life I had ever felt this way, and I didn’t want it to stop. I knew things were going to get complicated, and they would be hard to deal with at times. The decisions we faced weren’t necessarily going to come out the way we wanted, but at this moment, I couldn’t think of how I would do without him.
I turned over on my back and put my arms under my head, staring up at the ceiling. I had lived my entire life only looking out for myself and the welfare of the town. The thought of being with another person, someone else that I would need to be there for was a little intimidating. It wasn’t that I didn’t want it, but it was that I was a little fearful of change. What would life be like if we were together from then on? At first, I imagined a farmhouse like the one Alison had, decorated with both our tastes, horses in a barn outside, dogs running around, and a couple of kids with his blond hair and my eyes. I smiled at the thought of the town fair, hand in hand, one kid in my arms and the other on his shoulders. But as those thoughts faded, I saw New York City, tall and grand looming in the background.
I had almost forgotten completely about Ryan’s life in New York, how he had a business, a house, cars, galas, and friends. If we were to really buckle down and commit to each other, tell each other that this was it, we wanted to continue our lives together, would he insist that I come back to New York City with him? Could I make that sacrifice for him? I wanted to say yes, that you do that when you love someone, but the idea of leaving Bonanza was terrifying and sad at the same time. I had a business here, family, friends, and a life. It was where I was born and raised and where I always thought I would one day die, tucked in my bed, surrounded by my children and grandchildren. I never imagined being in the city that never sleeps, surrounded by ornate furniture, and a world I could never get used to, fancy gowns hanging in my closets, and heels where my boots once sat.
My life in Bonanza, it meant more to me than a place to lay my head. It was a town of good, honest people, a place where you knew your neighbor’s name. More than that, you knew your neighbor, spent holidays with them, celebrated birthdays, and always stopped and talked when you were out and about in town. There were never awkward conversations because you knew everyone like they were family. You looked out for each other, helped each other, and prayed for the things you knew they needed in their lives. If there was a God up there in the sky, I imagined he spent half his time listening to prayers from Bonanza. Everyone always wished everyone else good tidings, no matter what time of year it was. It was that small-town mentality and some of the last of it left in this country.
I didn’t want to give up my life in Bonanza. There was no question about that. At the same time, though, I had grown so close to Ryan and struggled so hard to have him in my life, I didn’t want to give him up either. I knew he said he was staying here, but I wasn’t sure if he meant for good or not. He still was living out of the hotel, and we hadn’t had the conversation again since then. I sighed and rolled over, facing the window. I watched the car lights pass by in the dark, thinking about my future and trying to figure out where it would lead me. I wanted to be with him. I knew that, but I hated that I had to choose between a life of peace and quiet without him or a life with him in a place I would never feel at home.
The truth was, I had no idea what I should do. I knew what I wanted, but it didn’t fit together like I always imagined it would when I’d met the man I wanted to be with. Instead, it was messy and confusing. I let out a deep breath and closed my eyes, figuring there was no reason to sit and churn over it in the middle of the night. Maybe a good night’s sleep would shine some light on it.
Chapter 63
Ryan
That next morning, I woke up before Sara and got showered and dressed. When I came out, she was just stirring, and I walked over and kissed her on the cheek. She moaned softly and opened her eyes, looking up at me with a sweet smile.
“Get dressed.” I smiled. “Let’s hunt down some breakfast.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I’m starving.”
She got out of bed and pulled on her clothes, walking into the bathroom and gargling with mouthwash. I sat on the edge of the bed watching her as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail on the top of her head. She looked so happy and carefree, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Hey, the barbecue place also serves a mean weekend breakfast,” she said. “The whole town is usually there throughout the morning.”
“Sounds good to me,” I sai
d.
We headed out to the barbecue joint, and the first thing we heard whispered through the crowd was Sheriff Janson and his deputy’s name. I tried to listen closer, but I had to wait until we sat down at the table. We looked at each other but didn’t say a word, leaning back slightly and eavesdropping on the table next to us.
“Oh, yes,” the older woman said. “The state police came right up into the station. They had their guns pulled and everything. They walked the sheriff and his deputy right out of the building, in handcuffs and put him in the back of their police car. The sheriff looked madder than hell, and I’m pretty sure it was the first time I’d ever seen him without his cowboy hat on and a pistol on his side.”
“Well, where’d they take him?” the older man asked.
“To some holding facility in the next county over,” she said. “We don’t have a good facility here, you know that.”
“Well, I wonder what they got him on?”
“Rumors have been flying,” she whispered. “They’re saying he had something to do with the bank robberies.”
“Aw, they caught them fellas,” he said. “You and that rumor mill.”
“Well, whatever it was, the order had come down from the state capitol to arrest them,” she said. “My nephew, Hubert, heard the arrest warrant broadcast over the state police frequency last night, and it was signed by the dang state’s attorney general.”
“You know, I’m not surprised by any of this. I’ve told you for years that man was crooked,” the older gentleman said.
“Harold,” she gasped. “We’re in public.”
“Don’t make no difference. He ain’t around to come tromping all over my rights like usual,” he said.
I glanced back over at Sara, and she sat back up in her chair. She stared down at her plate, but then a big smile moved across her face. I picked up my glass of orange juice and toasted her, not needing to even say a word. Things seemed like they were looking up for us. The insurance would cover the lost solar panels, and even more importantly, Sara could live her life without the fear of Janson walking around the corner or trying to hurt the animals and property she loved so much. Sure, I felt relieved, but I couldn’t even imagine how relieved she felt. It must have been like a new day for her, and I loved to see that smile on her face.
My Last First Kiss Page 60
