CHAPTER 19
Garrison
My eyes still closed, I squeeze them tighter, not wanting to wake up and lose this moment. My left arm is wrapped tightly around Sawyer while her right arm is draped over my chest. Her right leg is snaked around mine as her freezing toes try to find warmth beneath my calf. Why is it that no matter the season, a woman’s toes are always like icicles? The answer doesn’t matter because I want glaciers pressed against my body forever, and if I open my eyes then forever is that much closer to being gone. Inhaling deeply, I try to store away the sweet scent of Sawyer for a day when she’s no longer around, for a time when this moment is nothing but a distant memory. Twelve hours of dancing, kissing, making love, and just in general being intimate with Sawyer is going to have to last me a lifetime.
Clearing my mind, my lips twitch as I recall last night. After the couch, we headed to the kitchen… for pizza. We were both famished and it seemed like the best way to avoid the awkwardness of post-first time sex, but we had nothing to worry about. Sawyer preheated the oven while I took the pizza out of the fridge and by the time I had it open, she met me in the middle of the kitchen with a kiss. For the next eight-twelve minutes while the pizza baked, Sawyer teased me about how awful my dancing was. When the timer dinged, we devoured the Italian treat and I insisted on showing her I could do better. For the next hour, we waltzed, foxtrotted, and she even attempted to teach me how to do the quickstep, but it was only a matter of me stepping on her foot one too many times for us both to call it quits.
With her feet sore from my clumsy footwork, I took her hand and led her upstairs. I left her to undress as I ran her a bath and when she entered the bathroom naked, I couldn’t take my gaze off her because she is simply breathtaking. I intended the bath to be just for her but as she walked across the room and kissed me, she told me to get in, too. Like the scene from Pretty Woman, we sat together in the bathtub while Sawyer told me about her career in dancing. When the water got cold, we moved to the bed, climbing under the sheets and we made love again.
I sigh, thinking about the phrase “made love.” I always thought that was a thing that women say because it was much more pleasant than saying “fucked,” and more intimate than saying “had sex.” As a man, I never knew there was a difference between the three phrases but being intimate with Sawyer showed me exactly what making love meant and as amazing as it was, I’m afraid last night may be the only time I’ll ever experience it. I squeeze my arm around her shoulders, reminding myself that for now she’s still within my reach.
Sawyer showed me how two people, virtually still strangers, can connect and be one, how when our gazes meet, we can carry on an entire conversation, and how our souls knew long before either of us that fate brought us together. That dog knew to run into the street so my motorcycle would be there for Sawyer to run over because this right here, her in my arms, it’s my destiny.
Sawyer
My feet are freezing but the rest of my body feels like it’s pressed against a furnace. I burrow my feet against the mattress and the furniture, trying to spread the heat to my frozen toesies. My brain is so tired from last night’s physical and emotional workout, but my body’s temperature is keeping me from staying in that deep sleep I need. Snuggling closer to the furnace, my eyes pop open as I realize the heat source is none other than Garrison. Staring at his broad chest with a nipple right in my eye, I smile, enjoying waking up in this manner. The only bad part of this is that I only feel asleep a couple hours ago.
Last night was the highest of highs, starting with Garrison finding my grandmother’s dress, to dancing with Garrison as I wore it. Most women would probably say the sex was the highlight of the night and don’t get me wrong, it was exceptional, but the best part for me was this. I’ve never been held the way Garrison is holding me right now, lovingly yet securely like he’ll never let me go. I know I need to wrap things up here in Memphis soon but for the time being, I want nothing more to literally lay like this until I have to leave town. I spent late last night trying to teach him to dance and god love his determination, but he needs lots of work on his foxtrot and should probably never attempt the quickstep ever again. After a bath, we spent the rest of the evening alternating between fornication and conversation. It was the best “date” I’ve ever been on and nothing will ever top it.
Garrison’s fingers pull through my hair gently. I turn my head to look up at him, a huge smile dancing on my face and there’s nothing I can do to hide it, but I don’t care. Leaning up on my elbow, I move my head toward his, giving him a good morning kiss which makes my entire body tingle as I remember how he worked those lips on my body not that long ago. Already lying half on him, I shift my weight until I’m lying between his legs, my torso on top of his. His penis twitches against my leg, and the wetness between my legs reappears.
“Morning, beautiful,” he whispers, pushing my hair out of my eyes.
Linking my fingers together, I rest my hands on his chest, setting my chin on top of them. I stare into his gorgeous eyes, my smile still present. I heard his salutation, but I’m still too caught up in the moment to respond so instead, I just stare at him dreamily, hoping it doesn’t creep him out.
“Sleep okay?” he asks, the backs of his fingers brushing down my cheek.
I bob my head up and down on my hands, a goofy grin still on my face. “Especially with you holding me.”
Garrison gives a soft smile, turning over his hand to cup my cheek. “I feel the same way.”
I kiss his chest then shimmy up his body so my lips can find his. His manhood moves between my legs, standing at half attention and I bit my bottom lip to keep from being too excited. Garrison slowly trails his fingertips down the sides of my back until they rest on the top of my rear. Finally, at lip level, I smile as I kiss him softly.
“I’m glad I ran over your bike,” I whisper with a giggle.
Garrison tries not to smile. “Yeah, me, too.”
Trying to be serious, I look into his eyes and try not to grin. “I’m also glad that you’ve been here with me to help find my father.”
He nods. “No problem, it’s let me get to know you which I’m really glad I had the chance to.” He pauses, his eyes looking away from me for a brief second. “I have to leave soon.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek, not sure where this conversation is headed.
“I’ll do everything I can to help you while I’m here, but I have to report back to the Navy when they tell me,” he says, his voice is a mix of anguish and remorse as he rambles on, trying to explain when I don’t respond.
“Yeah, of course,” I say nonchalantly, trying to pretend that I don’t care but deep down I know that I do. But think, Sawyer, what were you really expecting from this relationship? I knew from the day I ran over his motorcycle that he wasn’t going to be around forever and neither am I. I have a life in New York, I have dreams to chase, this is just a temporary situation… so why does my heart feel so sad at the mention of Garrison leaving?
I sit up, which is a bad idea because Garrison’s semi slides right between my lips and despite my melancholy, my lady bits are immediately tingling. Garrison takes my hands in his as he pushes up on his elbows.
“Sawyer, I don’t want you to think last night was anything less than it was. You’re gorgeous, you have a strong mind, a sense of independence, but…”
I lean down and kiss him before he goes on. He said what I wanted to hear, that this wasn’t just a play for him, it wasn’t a one night stand. I don’t want to hear the rest because if I do, it’ll be that much harder to leave this small town and forget about him.
Garrison kisses me back shortly then pulls away. “Did you hear me, Sawyer?”
I shake my head, moving my hands to his hair. “That you’re leaving soon so I’d better enjoy you as much as possible before you leave… yeah, I heard that.” I press my lips against his again, kissing him hungrily.
Garrison sighs, mumbling against my lips. “Dammit, Sawyer…”
I giggle as he says this, then yelp in surprise as he slides one hand around my waist and flips me to my back. Quickly, I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling his full erection against me and grinding against it as best I can.
Garrison shakes his head as he laughs. “I should torture you right now, you know that, right? That’s what you deserve for avoiding the conversation.”
Laughing, I squeeze my legs tighter, not letting him go. “How would you torture me?”
Garrison moans. “Mmm… a nice slow torture, licking you, teasing you, bringing you to the cusp of orgasm, only to start over again before I let you come.”
I shiver at the thought, already picturing exactly how it would feel. “That sounds like it would be more torture for you than me. What do you get out of it?”
A grin takes over his face, one bigger than any other I’ve seen him wear. “Oh, I’d get plenty out of it,” he says wickedly, sitting up and unlocking my legs. His head disappears before I can react and his warm tongue slides between my lips down below. Mm… this is only one of the many reasons I’m going to miss this man.