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He pulls away, and I breathe a sigh of relief. This is what I want. Just me and Vaughn, just being. I have no clue where he’s going, but I don’t care just as long as we’re together.
He stops in front of our old elementary school. “Think we can sneak onto the playground?”
“I think they have a side entrance.” We both hop out of the truck, and Vaughn grabs my hand as we make our way onto the playground.
It’s carefree the way we walk together. And a pang of nostalgia hits me as we step onto the grass of the old place.
It’s a nice night out, and as we run toward the swings I laugh a little. “It’s been so long since I’ve been here.”
“Even longer for me.”
I sit on the swing and Vaughn moves behind me, placing both hands around the chains. He pulls me back and then lets go, and I swing forward.
When I make it back I feel his hands on my lower back as he pushes me. I haven’t been pushed on a swing in ages. I work my legs, pumping them to go higher.
Once I’m moving well, Vaughn sits on the swing next to me and pumps his legs to get as high as I am.
I let the wind move through my hair, remembering when I was just a kid, watching my brother and Vaughn play on the basketball courts during recess. I miss being young.
Vaughn laughs. “I don’t think I’ve ever swung on the swings.”
“This can’t be your first time.”
He’s way higher than me now. “It might be. But I think I can jump further than you.”
I laugh along with him. I know he can jump further than me. His legs are longer, and well, I’ve never mastered the art of jumping off a swing this high up.
“We’ll both jump on three. Ready?”
I smile, knowing full well I can’t jump going this fast. “Ready,” I shout anyway.
“One…two...three.” He catapults his body from the swing, landing perfectly on his feet a few feet away. He turns to see me, and laughs. “You didn’t jump.”
“I’m going to.” I turn my hands out, so I can make a desperate attempt at this. “I’m going.” I stop pumping my legs so I’ll slow down a bit.
“Come on, Pea. I did it.”
I close my eyes and take the leap, letting myself land in the sand. Vaughn is right there to catch me, his arms wrapping around my waist in a hurry.
“Thank you,” I whisper as soon as I’m positive my footing won’t come out from under me.
He doesn’t let go of me just yet, and his grip tightens. He kisses the top of my head. “You’re welcome,” he says, breathing in the scent of my shampoo. “I should stop this or we’ll end up making out on the slide.”
I laugh a little. “Race you up the slide?” I ask him, taking both our minds off not being able to make out right now.
He takes off.
Vaughn’s already down the slide before I even hit the first step. He makes his way behind me, laughing. “You’re not very good at this game.”
I turn around. Big mistake. Our bodies are lined up, and he’s caged me in with his arms. I have nowhere to go. I’m stuck on the ladder of a slide, with the only man I’ve ever truly wanted gazing into my eyes.
He doesn’t move.
“No fair,” I say to him.
“Admit it, I won.”
I shake my head, knowing full well he won, but not wanting to break this connection with him just yet. “No, I would have won.”
He smiles, leaning in. “You’re right. You win.”
I cup his face with both hands. “You’re so easy.”
There’s a twinkle in his eyes. “You have no idea.” And then he kisses me.
A type of kiss with all the feelings behind it. One that tells him how I feel about him without saying the words. This is what I want him to know with this kiss.
And it’s like he understands this language. Like we’re speaking it between ourselves, because he kisses me back in just the same way.
In a way that tells me he won’t ever let any harm come to me. The way he grips his hands in my hair, so needy, so determined. Like he wants me to know I’m his.
I am forever his.
He doesn’t even need to ask me.
I just am.
I want so much more in this moment with him. But, I don’t push. I let him come to me, creating the pace of our kiss.
He groans into my mouth and I swallow it down, keeping it only for me. I want to be the only woman who ever makes him feel this way. “Vaughn,” I say, breaking the kiss. “I only want you.” I stare into his soft blue eyes.
“I’ve only ever wanted you, Paisley.”
