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Twenty-Two
Ivy
This is the first minute I’ve had to myself since Sem came to my room yesterday. And I’ve only come back to my room to change into my bathing suit. He’s gone down to the pool to grab some sunchairs, and we’ll have lunch there.
I take a washcloth and wet it to clean my thighs. Sem certainly has a lot of semen. I wonder if that’s hereditary too. I probably should be worried about STDs, but I don’t want to be. I know that’s reckless. I want to love this vacation and this moment and take all these chances because I don’t want to live my life being scared anymore. My experience with Scott left me feeling scared and anxious for too long. But even before that, my mother getting cancer and then my father taking his own life also left me anxious about loving or trusting anyone. I want to believe my time to love and live a normal life has finally come.
I think about Sem’s body again and how the ridges on the top of his penis rubbed against the top of my vagina, and I feel aroused again, which is crazy because we’ve already had sex three, no four times since last night. It’s never been like this with anyone for me. Although it’s strange, he won’t allow me to go down on him. I can only assume that he’s had some trauma around that. But it’s easy enough for me to let that go when everything else seems perfect.
I dry my thighs off with a fluffy white towel and put on my swimsuit. It’s a one-piece I’ve had for years. I considered getting a new swimsuit for this vacation, but none that I tried on were as flattering as this one. I grab my pool bag, including a book, even though I highly doubt I’m going to do any reading with Sem sitting next to me and to be honest, why would I want to escape anything right now? I can honestly say, for the first time in a very long time, I love my life. Content with my appearance, I head down to the pool.
I find Sem in all his muscular glory and in the tiniest of swimsuits next to the pool on a reclining sun chair. I remind myself as I get closer of two things. First, I shouldn’t be jealous that others are looking at him with hungry eyes, and second, he’s Northern European, and maybe small swimsuits are fashionable for men there. I don’t know, and he doesn’t look bad. He gets up unnecessarily, takes my bag, and extends his hand for me to sit on the lounger beside his.
“I had to order immediately; otherwise, we couldn’t get the lunch menu. I hope you don’t mind I ordered for you. But I ordered two different things, so if you’d prefer my dish, you can have it.”
“I don’t mind. I’m actually curious to see what you thought I’d like.”
Just then, a waiter appears with a bottle of champagne and presents it to Sem. He nods, and the waiter pours us two glasses.
Sem holds out his glass to me and makes a small toast, “May this feeling never end.”
His grey eyes are looking at me so intensely I feel like we’re the only two people in the world. I repeat the last half of his quiet toast. “May they never end. Not ever.”
My words seem to have made an impact on him as he leans over and kisses me before I can take a sip of champagne. I give him a big smile. Then we both drink some champagne. It’s cool and refreshing. Then I take in the amazing view of the blue ocean, the sailboats, the mountains, and then, of course, Sem. Tall, muscular, and blonde. How did I end up with such a man? He feels my eyes on him and looks at me, but I can’t read his face.
“Everything okay?”
“I was just thinking I was a fool for hesitating to come here.”
“Why were you hesitating?” I ask. I resist providing him with possible excuses I had come up with over the last few weeks.
“I was worried that our romantic spell might be broken if we met again in such a prearranged way,” he admits.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re very superstitious? We had to meet in a prearranged way to be sure we met again.”
“Maybe.”
Lunch is served, interrupting our conversation. He had ordered me the most wonderful seafood pasta. I applaud him for such an excellent choice. “I’m in heaven right now.”
“Still? I think I remember you saying that a few hours ago too.”
My cheeks go hot. The memory of his face between my legs flashes through my mind. “Yes, still, but this time, I have something in my mouth.”
We share a smile.
After the plates have been cleared away and our stomachs full, Sem asks me if I want to go for a swim. We venture into the mostly empty infinity pool with dramatic coastline views. Sem pulls me against him. We stand and float together, just taking everything in silently.
My life has never been so perfect.
Sem breaks the silence, “Do you want to get married?”
I don’t know if I imagined him saying that or if he really did. So, I wait before I reply.
“Ivy?”
“Did you just propose marriage?”
“Yes. Will you marry me, Ivy?”
