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ANNIE
The sun is shining brightly, and I can feel the heat of its rays beat down on my face as Sketch and I lie on the grass staring up at the sky. Scattered clouds pass by sporadically.
‘That one looks like a sheep,’ I say and point.
Sketch laughs. ‘They all look like sheep.’
‘Okay. Okay,’ I giggle. ‘This one, then.’ I drag my finger across the sky to point at the next chewed-up cloud slowly creeping by. ‘What does that one look like?’
‘Um… a sheep.’ Sketch folds his arms across his chest and nods defiantly.
I flop over onto my belly and prop myself up on my elbows. ‘This one?’
‘Sheep. Definite sheep.’
‘This one?’ I move my finger.
‘Oh, now that one is interesting.’ Sketch twists his head to the side, down and up, dramatically examining all angles of the cloud. ‘Sheep.’
‘I’m sensing a pattern.’ I playfully roll my eyes.
‘Are you sensing I’d much rather be kissing you than playing find the cloud animal?’ Sketch asks. ‘Because I would.’
Sketch turns on his side to face me. He bends his arm at the elbow and holds his head up with his hand pressed flat against his cheek. There are inches between us but I can feel the heat radiate from him.
The collar of my dress suddenly becomes too tight, and I open the top button. Sketch’s eyes are on my fingers. I fumble with the next button, opening it too. Sketch’s lips part, and I’m desperate to know what he’s thinking. The third and final button sits just above my breasts. My fingers reach for it, trembling, but before I have time to open it, I feel Sketch’s hand around mine, holding me still.
‘Are you sure?’ he whispers.
I nod, certain.
Sketch leans forward, and my eyes close as I drink in the sweet taste of his lips pressing onto mine.
‘I love you, Annie,’ he says, brushing his lips over my cheek. ‘I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember.’
‘I love you, too,’ I say, my voice quivering.
A gentle tingle runs the length of my spine as Sketch’s puckered lips dare lower to caress my neck.
‘I want to grow old with you, Annie. I want to die lying in your arms.’ Sketch gathers me into his strong arms. The softness of my body melts against the firmness of his, banishing any space between us. ‘Say you’ll love me until I’m an old man and God calls me from this life.’
‘I will,’ I pant, aching to get even closer to him.
I’m desperate to shed our clothes so nothing is between us, not even fabric.
‘I want to be there for you always,’ Sketch whispers. ‘Every step I take from here, I want to take it with you by my side.’
I reach for my third button. I open it confidently and the soft, blue satin of my dress gapes in response. Sketch shifts and nuzzles into the gap. His warm face presses against my bare flesh, and I sigh contently. I close my eyes, and my deep, satisfied breath dances across the top of Sketch’s head.
‘Sketch?’
‘Hmm.’ His deep tone vibrates against my chest.
‘Make love to me.’
Sketch pulls away. I stop breathing. My heart pounds so furiously in my chest that I think it might jump out of my body and into his. Sketch pulls himself to sit up, and he twists at the waist to look back at me. I can’t read him right now. His eyes are hungry with desire, but Sketch is a gentleman, and gentlemen aren’t supposed to act on unadulterated desire.
‘Annie, I don’t want to take advantage of you,’ he says.
