Chapter 7
Willa
I'D BEEN ON quite a few dates in college.
Movies. Coffee. Dinner.
None of them could hold a candle to my first date with Justin.
And it still wasn't over.
It was almost an hour walk to the park near the Brooklyn Bridge, but walking hand-in-hand with Justin could never be long enough.
There was a large park that was completely lit up, and had benches and grassy areas to sit on, even a carousel.
But the view that really took my breath away was the Manhattan skyline. It looked even better than in the movies, all lit up and the towering Brooklyn Bridge that led to the city.
"Do you want to find a spot to sit or ride the carousel first?" Justin asked.
I laughed. "As fun as a carousel ride seems, I think I need to sit for a little bit at least."
He guided me toward an area that was rows of wooden benches. We went to the very top in the corner of a shadowy area. There were a few older kids milling about on the path and other couples walking hand in hand.
There was a slight breeze coming from the water and the light sounds almost lulled me to sleep. I put my head on Justin's shoulder and his arm was around me, his lips at my ear. "Don't tell me that you're already going to fall asleep on me. I didn't think I was that boring."
I laughed, snuggling up closer to him. "You're the farthest thing from it. Your wine, though, may have an effect to make a girl sleep."
"Well that won't do, we still have hours before the sunrises," Justin said.
"I guess then you're just going to have to figure out something to keep me awake."
His fingers brushed against my thigh and a shiver went through my body. I looked up, meeting his eyes. The crowd was wearing down, but people were still around and I didn't think the city ever slept.
Without breaking our eye contact, I slowly took off my sweater and slipped it over my waist, raising my eyebrows. I'd never been this bold with a man before, but there was something about Justin that made me feel safe, and most of all, made me feel wanted and filled with desire.
His hands slid under the sweater and tip-toed up my thighs before his fingers brushed against the silk of my panties.
I clenched, my eyes closing ever so slightly. Just the mere touch sent a jolt of electricity through me.
He raised his eyebrows as if he was asking for my permission and I nodded slightly, putting my hand on my lap, turning toward him and pressing my mouth to his. We were hidden by the shadows, but if anyone were to see us in the corner they may think we were just in a heated make out session.
Justin pushed my panties to the side and ran his thumb over my center, before pressing it against my clit and hooking a finger inside of me. I moaned into his mouth and pressed myself closer to him.
This caused his finger to plunge deeper in me, and I moaned as his thumb drew circles over my sensitive flesh. With just a few touches I was on the brink of orgasm. He must have sensed it because he pulled me closer, devouring my moans as I clenched, coming hard on his fingers.
He quickened the pace, not stopping and before I knew it I was coming hard again and then a third time before he finally moved his fingers aside.
I whimpered, already missing the feel of him.
He kissed me again and then pressed his forehead to mine. "Sorry if that was too much."
I smiled. "There is nothing to be sorry about when it comes to multiple orgasms."
I kissed him again and again. I kissed him so hard and so long my lips felt puffy, but I didn't care. I could have kissed him forever.
His hands continued to roam over every part of me he could get his hands on. I wanted to be somewhere alone with him. To let him get to all the parts of me, but I didn't want to stop kissing him long enough to do that.
We were like two teenagers, making out on some high school bleachers. But I didn't care. This was my best moment in New York. I wasn't worried about finances or writing, I was just worried about getting lost in Justin's kisses.
When he finally broke our kiss, putting his hands on my cheeks, I stuck out my bottom lip in a pout.
He laughed, turning me toward the water.
I gasped when I saw the oranges and pinks of the horizon as the sun just started to rise over the Manhattan skyline. "Wow. It is beautiful."
"I didn't want to stop kissing you, but I thought you might want a hint of this view."
I laughed, turning toward him and placing a small kiss on his lips. "I'm thinking this view next to me is even better."
***
I'd seen Justin almost every night. I couldn't get enough of him or his kisses. We hadn't progressed to anything more than that and it was mostly because I wouldn't sleep at his place, let alone go in, and my place was full of jam supplies that made it hard to walk anywhere without having to step over something.
I wasn't exactly the cleanest jam maker, and constantly had supplies and different sticky substances all over the apartment.
When I wasn't making jam or making out with Justin, I was working in the bakery.
I hadn't written a single word and barely thought of it, until Saturday morning when I was getting ready for my first outdoor Brooklyn Flea and my phone rang with a Facetime call.
Shit, my mom.
I hadn't spoken to her much this week and had been ignoring her calls when I was busy, but I guess I could spare a few minutes for her.
I swiped to answer and propped my phone on the table as I put my hair into a ponytail. "Hey, Mom!"
Both my parents were sitting on their leather sectional, looking at me with big smiles on their faces. My parents weren't exactly happy when I told them about moving to New York and the worry lines were now etched on my mother's pale face.
Her and my dad both worked in administration at hospitals near University of Missouri.
They had their lives planned out for them from the moment they were born and I thought I was on the same path. I figured I'd stay with them on the outskirts of Columbia, work for the local newspaper or TV station, and then get my own place and get married eventually.
But not now.
For the first time ever I felt alive. Free. Everything was different. Flowers smelled better. Colors were brighter. There must have been something in the New York air.
"Hey, Willa. We finally got a hold of our busy New Yorker," Dad said.
I slipped on my tennis shoes. I had to get my last crate downstairs and into Leanna's van soon. It was going to be her last Saturday with me at the market then I'd be all on my own. Natacha would have a booth beside me, but I was still nervous for it.
"Yeah. Sorry. Life has been crazy here. Did you get the jam I sent you?"
Dad held up the jar of apricot lime. "Yes! It's delicious! Though I thought you were going to the city to become a journalist not a jam maker."
"I need something to pay the bills and there is nothing more inspiring than killing some fruits to make jam."
Dad laughed. "There's my little girl with her weird sense of humor. At least the city hasn't taken that from you."
"Hey, Willa, are you ready?" Leanna burst through the door. She didn't have boundaries and just kind of walked in when she pleased.
It may have been slightly intruding, but I really was going to miss her and Pepper when they left.
"Who is that?" Mom asked.
I picked up Pepper who happily licked my face as Leanna stood beside me and waved at the phone. "Hi, I'm Willa's friend, Leanna."
"As in Luscious Leanna?" Dad asked.
Leanna laughed. "The very one."
Mom's mouth formed a perfect 'O'. "Oh, well, we'll let you go since your boss is there. Call us when you're free. Love you!"
"Love you, too, Mom. Dad!" I said, giving one final wave before ending the call.
"Take it that was your parents?" Leanna asked.
I nodded. "Yeah. Sorry, I guess I lost track of time. It's been a while since I'd really gotten to talk to them since I moved here."
She shook her head. "Don't apologize for talking to your parents. I mean, you're still their daughter and this is really your first time on your own. You're in a new city, starting a whole new life, and I'm sure they just want to make sure you're okay."
I smiled. "Did anyone ever tell you that you're wise beyond your years?"
"Only you." She winked.
***
The Brooklyn Flea was packed. There was something about moving it outside for the summer and the smorgasbord of food that brought everyone out.
"Holy hell, I think we sold out of every apricot lime," I said, rifling through the empty crates behind our booth.
"Make that Sweet Heat as well," Leanna sang as the last customer left our table.
"I may have to make double the batch next week. The day is barely half way over."
Leanna smiled. "I'm sure that Natacha wouldn't mind helping you out if you needed it. Isn't that right, Tacha?"
Natacha said goodbye to her last customers that took away three boxes full of mason jars of cheesecake. "What was that, honey?"
Leanna stepped toward Natacha's booth that was practically connected to ours. "I said that you'd help Leanna make jam if she needs it."
Natacha shook her head. "I wish I could, honey, but at the rate this market's going, I'm gonna need her help filling my own jars."
I sighed, plopping down on one of the lawn chairs Leanna had brought. "It's okay. I'm sure I'll find time to do both."
"What about your writing?" Leanna asked, her eyes filled with concern.
I shrugged. "Not much happening there. If inspiration hits, I'll take notes on my phone."
"You've got all the inspiration you need in that tattooed little love monkey of yours," Natacha piped in.
I laughed. "Did you just call Justin a tattooed love monkey?"
"Would you prefer blue eyed babe with a bodacious body?" Natacha raised her eyebrows.
"I'll stick with tattooed love monkey, even though we just started dating so there is no need to throw that L word around."
Natacha laughed, smacking her leg. "Girl, I've seen the way you look at him. Even just talking about him, your whole face lights up. You've been bitten by the love bug and there is no going back."
I just stared at her open mouth. I didn't even know how the hell to answer that.
It had been exactly one week since I'd gotten off the plane in New York with a dream. Now I was sitting at a Farmer's Market, living in Brooklyn, and was undeniably falling in love with a winery owner. An older winery owner who was very successful.
Not that age mattered, but I wasn't about to tell my mom he was over ten years older than me.
"Let her bathe in the afterglow Natacha. Don't ruin her moment," Leanna piped in.
Natacha put her hands on her hips. "You're only saying that because you're still in the honeymoon stage with K—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a throat clearing huff came from the other end of the booth.
I turned my head sharply to see a smiling Justin.
"Justin! What are you doing here?" I sprang up from my chair and practically skipped to the other end of the booth.
"Speaking of Romeo," Natacha muttered.
I ignored her, but saw Justin's eyes briefly flit to hers before they were back at mine. "Well, I knew you would be at the market today and before I got busy with setting up for the wedding at the winery, I thought I'd bring you these."
He handed me a fresh bouquet of sunflowers. Ones that I had definitely been eyeing from one of the vendors.
"Oh, Justin they're beautiful. You didn't have to."
He smiled. "Yours from last week probably needed a refresher, and I feel bad that I can't hang out with you tonight."
"It's totally fine. You have work and I have to double my jam making this week. It's going to be crazy."
His face fell. "Oh. I hope I haven't been keeping you from work."
I shook my head fiercely. "No, totally not. We've just been really busy so I need to double the orders."
"Well, if you need any help this week I'm sure I could swing by."
I raised my eyebrows. "You want to help me make jam?"
He shrugged. "Why not? It could be a new adventure and I'm pretty good at the wine making, so I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard of a learning curve."
"Did you know you're probably the sweetest, most helpful boyfriend on the planet?"
His smile turned into a grin. "So I'm your boyfriend now?"
I gasped without even thinking about it, stumbling over my words, trying to pick out the right ones. Shit, I knew I was bad at reading men. This is why I didn't date. "I mean, you know, guy I'm dating or whatever."
He laughed, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "I think boyfriend is perfect. Does this mean I get to call you my girlfriend?"
I leaned in, whispering into his lips before I kissed them softly. "I'd like that."