“Where is everyone?”
“We’re doing things a little different this year.”
“What do you mean?”
“I figured instead of pancakes with your parents, I could take you for breakfast.”
“Really?”
“Really.” He nods and hops off the barstool. “I wanna spoil you today, Luna.”
I bite my lip to hide my smile. “You don’t have to do that. Just spending time with you is plenty.”
“I know I don’t have to—I want to.”
Butterflies take flight in my belly and I have to grip the countertop to keep from flying away with them. “Okay.” I nod and start toward the door. “Let’s go.”
“Hold up.” Samson steps closer to me. “Gotta do something first.”
“What’s that?” I ask, looking up at him from beneath my lashes.
“This,” he whispers, wrapping his big, strong arms around me.
I sink into his embrace, loving the way his body feels pressed to mine as his hands rub up and down my back before finally settling just above the swell of my ass.
“Will you kiss me?” I ask, hoping and praying he says yes.
“God, you tempt me, Luna,” he groans, flexing his fingers.
“It’s just us…” I whisper, rising up to my tippy-toes. “No one has to know. It can be my birthday present.”
“Stella.” My name sounds like a prayer on his lips. “Fuck.”
“Please.” I press my lips to his jaw. “Just one kiss.”
“You know I can’t deny you.” He nudges my face with his nose and then captures my lips with his own.
Despite us being together in secret for months now, this is only our second kiss. And while the first one was pure, sweet perfection, this one is full of forbidden want and need.
He dips his hands lower, squeezing my ass as he sucks on my lower lip.
I’ve never kissed with tongue before, but I’ve seen it in enough movies that I feel pretty confident when I slide my tongue against his.
If the bulge pressing against my belly is anything to go by, I think I nailed it. He feels huge.
“Fuck!” He breaks our kiss on a breathless moan. “Go wait in the truck for me. I’ll be right there.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask, worrying I did something wrong.
“Everything’s perfect, Luna.” He reaches down and adjusts himself. “I’ll… I’ll be right there.”
I race to the truck with my heart in my throat and my entire body tingling. How is it possible for a simple kiss to make me feel like this? Like I’m flying and falling all at once.
His keys are in the ignition, so I crank it and fiddle with the radio until I find a song I like. It’s some top twenty hit that’s sure to drive Samson crazy. But he won’t complain—he never does.
Finally, after what feels like forever, Samson joins me. “You ready?”
“For what?”
He puts the truck in gear and then rests his hand on my thigh. “The best day of your life.”
“That’s any day with you.” My cheeks burn as soon as the words leave my mouth. Way to sound like a stage-five clinger, I think to myself.
“You mean that?”
I hold my breath until we’re on the main road, debating how to answer. My mom always says a healthy relationship has no room for mistrust or dishonesty, and I want Samson and me to go the long-haul, so…
“Yeah. I mean it. You’re…”
“I’m what?” He gives my thigh a reassuring squeeze. “Tell me.”
“You’re everything to me, Samson.”
“Fuck, Luna,” he murmurs, his voice thick like honey.
“Why do you call me that?” I turn in my seat to look at him.
His throat bobs as he swallows. “You really wanna know?”
I nod.
“Because you’re the brightest light in my life. Your smile is enough to make the worst day bearable. You steady me, you challenge me, you center me.”
Tears—happy ones—fill my eyes, but he keeps going.
“I tried to fight it. Truly, I did. You’re too young for me, but fuck if I can stay away from you. You’re captivating, and I don’t just mean your looks, as beautiful as you are. It’s your soul, Stella. Just like the moon pulls the tides, your soul calls to mine, and I am helpless but to answer.”
“I…” I swallow hard. “I love you, Samson Carter.”
“I love you too,” he murmurs, unknowingly giving me the best birthday present of my entire life.
Chapter Two
Stella, Age 17
I check the clock—it’s almost eight, which means Samson will be here any minute. I’m usually still asleep when he gets here, but for some reason, this morning I’m wide awake and more than ready to see him.
“Happy Birthday, Luna.”
“Good morning, Samson.” I tuck my hair behind my ear and grin as he lingers in my doorway.
“You’re supposed to be asleep.”
I scrunch my brows. “Why does it matter?”
“I love getting to see you all cute and sleepy.” He shrugs. “It’s like looking into our future. One day, you’ll be waking up next to me like that.”