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“That’s a shame,” I mutter, ducking my head in an attempt to hide the insincerity of my platitude. “Must be something in the water.”
He snorts and hands me another sausage. We eat in silence, staring out across the sparkling waters of the loch. I could stay here with him forever. Right here, just as we are.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” I murmur.
“Hmm,” he mumbles in agreement.
I turn towards him.
He is looking at me.
I blush and dip my head. A frown creases his brow.
He takes a deep breath. My head spins, like I’m standing on the edge of a very high precipice, not sure if I’m ready for what he’s about to say. Not sure what he is about to say.
“You know, Vic, I would never have done that to you…”
“What, made me your girlfriend then dumped me after a week? Brought along a new squeeze to a party?” I’m reaching for humor, but the words sound flat and hollow. An unwelcome remembrance of something that doesn’t matter now.
“No, let you go. He’s a…chump.”
I don’t know what to say. I stare into the distance, at the surface of the loch, tinged blood red by the soft rays of the setting sun. My gaze follows the gentle waves to the shore. Is that a line in the perfect, golden sand? Are we about to cross it? I shiver.
“Are you cold?”
“A bit,” I admit. “I think it is just…thinking about things…”
He lifts the blanket and wraps it round us.
“Survival 101,” he says with an impish grin.
Under the blanket, I take his hand in mine. His eyebrows raise. “I’d trust you with my life any day,” I say, squeezing his hand. “And yes, Ben is a chump. But he doesn’t matter.”
“He doesn’t?” Corran smiles slowly. He draws my hand towards him and I twist round on the log to sit facing him. “You aren’t…hurt? I thought you…loved him…?”
“My pride was a bit wounded. I was very fond of him. I…thought…I loved him. I’m not so sure now. I will be honest, I did think that I wanted him back, to give it a better go this time, see how things could develop. But no, I’m fine. Really. He did me a favor.”
Corran’s brow furrows.
“No, really. He made me realize what it is that I truly want.”
I hold his gaze, despite the fire creeping across my cheeks. I want to run, to hide, to not say the words that I know are about to leave my lips. To keep things as they are right now. Forever. Before I open my mouth and ruin everything.
But I can’t hide from Corran. He knows me. Sometimes I think he knows me better than I know myself.
“And what is that?” asks Corran, his voice a low rumble.
“You.”
* * *
Without saying a word, Corran gathers me into his arms and lifts me from the log. He lies me gently on the ground, arranging the blanket under me. The sand underneath the blanket is soft and molds to the shape of my body. I wriggle, making myself comfortable, and Corran smiles as he bends forward to kiss me.
His mouth is warm and gentle, the brush of his lips feather light at first, then harder, more urgent as our tongues meet. Electricity crackles over my skin as his hand skates over the soft cotton of my vest to my chest. I gasp against his mouth as his fingers slide over my pebbled nipples, sending shocks of desire radiating through my body. Corran’s hand finds its way under the hem of my vest and I arch my back, encouraging him to give me more. I need to feel his skin against mine.
He peels the thin cotton of my bra down over the curve of my breast, exposing my nipple to his touch. The graze of his roughened fingertips sends a jolt of desire radiating from my core.
I wriggle, grinding against the thin cotton of my knickers in a desperate need for release. Corran smiles and slides his thick thigh between mine, parting my legs. I should be embarrassed, wantonly rubbing my aching heat against his bare thigh, but I’m not. He’s making me feel things I’ve never felt before. It feels so good, and so right. I know this man won’t ever hurt me, and I want everything he has to give me. I don’t know how I never realized it before.
