Chapter 18
Adeline
Iwake up to Gideon’s soft voice at the shell of my ear, sending ripples of shivers down my spine.
“Wake up, Snow. We’re here.” He pulls away just as my neck and cheeks turn red. I raise myself up from my sitting position and take in my surroundings. I’m in complete awe as I take in the scenery around me. We have to be at least one hundred feet away from the soft ocean waves lapping at the sand before it.
“Holy shit!” I say hoping out of the truck and heading straight towards the water. The beach goes on for miles and miles without another soul in sight. My feet stop at the edge of the sand as I squat down and run it through my fingers. I feel like a little kid in a candy shop. Never in my life have I seen a sight more beautiful than this. I’m completely captivated.
“You like it?” Gideon asks from behind me. I take no time untying my purple chucks and throwing my socks to the side.
“You didn’t tell me you live on the freakin water!” my smile must be contagious, because the one on Gideon’s face is stretching ear to ear. I wriggle my toes through the sand and squeal in excitement. I head towards the water like a fly drawn to a lamp.
“Where are you going?” I hear him call out to me, but I’m completely lost to the sight.
“To the water.” I pick up my pace with Max at my heels. This is literally the best day ever.
“What about your bathing suit?” he yells.
For a minute I stop in my tracks. I turn around to reply only to find him directly behind me, entirely shirtless. My throat goes dry, and my core starts to ache with need.
“I don’t have one.” I squeeze around the lump in my throat.
“We’ll go shopping later for food and grab one while we’re out.” he promises. I nod my head in return, turning my back on him once again. His hand whips out gripping my arm like a snake striking its prey, fast and precise.
“Snow.” My nickname rolls off his tongue in one fluid motion. I swear if he wasn’t holding me up, I’d be putty at his feet. His chest leans into mine as I tip my chin up to meet his penetrating eyes. “I’m going to kiss you now.” He dead pans.
“Do it.” I push up onto my tippy toes and meet him half way. I can’t even explain the rush of emotions that explode throughout my body as soon as we touch. A spark of electricity flows through my veins as his lips mesh with mine. His tongue darts out as I grant him open access. His lips are soft. Every kiss is as if he’s making love to my lips with his mouth. His hands slide down to the edge of my T-shirt and slowly begin to lift it upwards.
“What if people see?” I dart my head around, but see no one else in sight.
“I own the beach, no one else is around, and if they are they’re trespassing.” He shrugs his shoulders while nipping at my lips.
“The whole beach!” my voice raises a few octaves. Seriously can this get any more freaking better?
“The whole beach.” He nods his head as he dips it into the crock of my neck, nipping at the supple skin below my ear. “You going to stand here ogling all day or are you going to get your ass in the water?”
“Let’s go.” I pull on his hand but he lets go, latching onto my hips and throwing me over his shoulder. “Hey! Put me down, Gideon. I can walk myself!” I hit his back and wiggle my hips but he just holds on tighter.
“I don’t know about that, Snow. I feel like I just grew grey hairs waiting for you back there.”
“You’re the one who kissed me! If it was such an inconvenience maybe you shouldn’t do it anymore.” I whine against his chiseled back.
“We both know there’s not a chance of that happening Snow.” His feet break against the water as my body fills with adrenalin. I can feel the water droplets as they bounce off the backs of his feet the deeper he wades.
“You can put me down now!” I complain.
“Oh I’m going to, Snow. Hold your horses.” He takes a quick pause. “You can swim right?” he asks in all seriousness.
“Yes?” although I’ve never been to the ocean it doesn’t mean I’ve never swam before. Thanks to Tim’s mom and dad, I’ve had full access to his ginormous pool for the last four years.
“Good!” in one swift motion I’m sent flying through the air. My body breaks against the freezing ocean water as Gideon laughs in the background. My butt hits the ocean floor as I’m completely emerged, a smile literally still plastered on my face. There’s nothing like the feeling of ocean water. I could care less if I’m most likely getting frostbite in all the wrong places. I come roaring back up to the surface when my lungs thirst for air.
“That was not funny!” Gideon holds his belly laughing at my appearance. I look like a wet sewer rat. My usually frizzy curly hair is now flattened and plastered against my skin.
“You loved it!” he gives me a ‘know it all’ look. And he’s right, I did. I don’t even have to ask before he does it again and again. We spend the better half of the rest of the day swimming around and walking the along the water line. I’m a little kid at heart and stop to pick up all the seashells and pretty rocks along the way. Gideon tells me stories about him as a boy, only seeming to add to my vision of him as a little boy from the ones on the drive here.
It’s not until a few hours later until we finally make it inside, sun fried and sandy. The house is as spectacular inside as it is outside. Everything resembles the beach. The walls are a soft blue with matching sandy colored counter tops. Small accents hang on the walls only seeming to tie everything together. The bedrooms were the last stop on the grand tour. Two large rooms sat side by side, and if we were smart there’d be one for each of us. But I never claimed to be smart.
“This is my room.” Gideon says as he takes in my expression. “And yours.” He eyes me intently waiting for my approval. A swarm of butterflies take off in my chest.
“Okay.” I whisper.
“Why don’t you take a shower and get dressed while I cook us up some lunch?” He kisses my bare shoulder, sending goose bumps down my arms. I can only nod in response. This day has been one out of a fairytale and its only half way over. How I managed to even end up here, I’ll never know.