CHAPTER ELEVEN - KAMI
It was hard to believe it had only been just a few days short of two weeks since Tate and I met. Bedding a guy on the first date wasn’t my style, but I came to find out Tate had a way of bringing out my wild side. I thanked my lucky stars that his sister came home that night.
It gave me a chance to reflect and push the breaks, a little. We hadn’t had sex or done any of the deliciously naughty things we’d done in his bed, although I sure as hell wanted to; on countless occasions.
I hadn’t spent the night again. I told him I wanted to take things slowly as we got to know each other more, and he agreed to let me take the lead. I really liked him and felt myself getting attached, so I wanted to give our relationship enough time before we got physical again.
I’d put my heart on the line one too many times in the past and ended up devastated, so I promised myself two full weeks of dating before we’d take things to the next level. I didn’t tell Tate an exact timeline, because I didn’t want to feel pressured if I still wasn’t ready.
Tate was unlike any other guy. He was so patient and respected my wishes, without attempting to change my mind. We had so much in common that it was almost too good to be true. Things were moving so fast that it almost scared the crap out of me.
Not too long ago, I’d sworn off men almost entirely and prepared myself for a sperm donor.
If I was going to open my heart to Tate, I needed know that I could trust him; that he wasn’t hiding anything from me. With that said, we had only a few days to go before the end of my two weeks of no sex rule. Being alone with him in the woods was going be a real test of my self-control.
I prepared for our date, dressing casually for adventure, as Tate suggested. I couldn’t help but think about him and our time together.
Not only had he come in for coffee when I was on shift, but he’d called me, texted, and even came to my house a few evenings to help me install furniture and paint the walls. I still wasn’t sure if I was going to stay there, but it needed doing, and Aunt Helen had agreed to take a bit off my rent for the work. I could certainly use the break.
We took full advantage of flirting hard, and he’d even sent me a picture of his naked ass upon request. It was the least he could do since I sent a picture of my bare breasts.
That conversation had been intense, and it ended with the two of us both pleasuring ourselves for the other to hear. Phone sex was underrated, and I hoped I’d never have to masturbate alone again.
I pulled on my hiking boots, which was another request, and wondered what he had in store. I hoped I wasn’t rock climbing or one of those places where you shoot each other with air guns. Devin had taken me to those places when he wanted some adventure, and I’d gone home from both with bruises.
He showed up in his jeep a half an hour later and came around, as usual, to help me in. He even clicked my seatbelt and gave me a quick kiss. “I’ve missed seeing you.” He walked around and got in the driver’s seat.
“You saw me yesterday.” He’d come in for a cup of coffee on my morning shift.
“Right, and it has been too long.” His words had me warm and fuzzy inside, and I kept telling myself not to get too excited. Once the new wore off me, who knows how he’d feel.
It had happened that way with Devin. Things were amazing between us at first, but then things got too comfortable, the new wore off, and he grew bored. Bored enough to stray. Tate and I hadn’t even solidified that we were in a relationship yet, and I was afraid we were fast-tracking our way to sudden burnout. I hoped I was wrong, but my history proved otherwise.
He drove us out toward the interstate away from the city. “Where are we going?” I glanced out the window and saw the city growing further away in the distance.
“We’re going out to the country. I have a few places I like to go where it's pitch dark, and the sky is alive.” He put his hand on my knee and gave it a squeeze. “I hope you’re not afraid of the dark.”
“As long as you stay close, I think I’ll be OK.” I placed my hand over his.
“I promise I won’t leave your side.” He picked up my hand and brought it to his warm lips, which brushed my knuckles. “I’m glad you listened to me about the hiking boots. There are all kinds of critters up here and some rough terrain, and that’s on the beaten path.”
“Will we have to leave the beaten path?” I glanced to the back seat and saw a medium-sized black bag that had a roll of duct tape looped through the strap and his camera case. For a minute, I wondered if I should be worried. Tate did seem too good to be true, and now he was taking me far from the city in the pitch dark of night with a duffel bag and a roll of duct tape.
“No, we won’t. I brought my big light and some duct tape to secure it to a tree so I can get a good look at what’s around and what I’m doing.”
I breathed a little easier. “Why don’t you just use your headlights?” I knew the jeep had a huge light bar overhead.
“The smaller lights are easier to aim, and I turn them off and on so often. I’ll lay a blanket down that you can sit on.”
“That will be perfect for looking up at the stars, among other things,” I said, glancing at him from under my lashes. The vein in the side of his jaw bounced and I knew he was thinking dirty thoughts.
A few minutes later, we pulled off onto a dark and winding road that led up into the hills.
He parked, and I stayed in the jeep as he scanned the area with a flashlight before choosing a spot to set up the light that he ran off a huge battery. He also had them rigged on a switch so he could flip them off and on as needed.
He came to my door and opened it, taking my hand to help me out. “You weren’t kidding. It’s dark out here.”
“It’s the new moon.” I like coming out on smaller phases, and before the moon rises so I get great quality photos. I came out a couple of weeks ago before the moon came out, but I wasn’t happy with the shots. The new moon, that’s the best time for what I do.” I stepped and stumbled as he stayed pressed tight behind me talking just above my ear. “Come and sit here. You should adjust to it soon.” I’d been in the jeep where there was some light from the displays.
I lay back and looked up at the sky, which was lit up as I’d never seen it. “That’s amazing.”
“It always looks that beautiful; we just can’t always see it. That’s why I like to capture it. You’d be surprised at how many people think my photos are faked.” His voice stayed close, but he let my go in order to capture a few images.
“OK, I need your help, now,” he finally said. I turned my head to barely see his outline moving in the dark.
“My help? I didn’t think you were going to put me to work.”
“You thought you were just going to get off easy, huh? No chance.” He chuckled. “Come here. I want you to point this thing to whatever piece of sky you like.”
“I want to capture Orion.” I gazed up at the sky, where I knew it to be. “Here.”
“OK, hit that button and we’ll see what we get when we’re done.” I did as he instructed, and he stood close behind me, his hands moving from my shoulders to my waist. I turned from the tripod, and our lips met with a tender kiss that soon deepened.
His hand came up to my hair and my back arched as he leaned into me. I pressed my hips forward, finding his and he slipped a hand down to my ass to cup it and draw me even closer. His thick erection pushed into me, and I felt the hunger for him aching deep in my core. He pulled away, each of us panting.
“I’m trying to behave, but you make it so hard.” He chuckled softly, and I could barely see the white smile in front of me.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I was the one who said we should take things slowly. I don’t mean to make it hard.” After a moment, we both laughed at my words.
“I love being close to you.” He drew me into his arms and kissed me again, this time laying me back against the soft blanket. Every time things would heat up to where I’d think he’d want to have sex, he pulled away, teasing me and driving me crazy. He was waiting for me to tell him I was ready.
I wanted him so badly and yet; I liked the throbbing ache between my legs. We rubbed together, his erection pressing hard into my mound. It was so good that a few strokes later, I quickened our pace as I came hard.
“That’s my girl. You’re about to push me over too.” Moments later I did, and even though we didn’t have sex, it was the hottest, most satisfying make-out session I’d had in ages, even better than our phone sex.
I was more than ready for the real thing.