I smiled and he undressed himself. Moments later, we were in bed, embracing, moving our arms, our legs, turning ourselves to each other, drawing each other deeper and deeper into each other with every kiss, every touch.
"Are you ready, Cary?" I asked, breathing my last bit of caution before my thundering heart closed down all avenues of thought and left me longing only for him inside me, making us feel like one.
"Yes," he said with a smile. "Protected."
I felt myse
lf being drawn up higher and higher, dangled above the earth, exquisitely tormented by the danger and the sense of abandon. Our moans mingled until each was indistinguishable from the other. I dug my fingers into his shoulders to hold on and to keep him close. We came at each other like the lovestarved people we were; desperate for a loving touch, a longing word.
When it was over, we collapsed in a delightful exhaustion, both gasping for breath, neither able to speak. I took his hand and put it over my heart.
"Feel this pounding," I said, shakily. "It's scary, but wonderful."
"Mine's the same way."
"If we died here together, Grandma Olivia would be very upset," I said and he laughed.
"She'd have everyone involved sworn to secrecy and then she'd have us buried at sea."
"But she wouldn't cancel her dinner party that night," I added.
He laughed and turned to embrace me. We lay there, holding each other, whispering sweet promises, dreaming, constructing our wonderful fantasies, weaving a cocoon of dreams tightly around ourselves. After a while, we stopped and dozed, which almost proved fatal, for when my eyes snapped open, it was nearly nine-thirty.
"Cary!"
I sat up, shaking him to wake him.
"Whaa ."
"Hurry, get dressed. Raymond will be at Theresa's before you get me back!"
We both leaped off of the bed and threw on our clothes. We got into the truck and for a few frantic beats it wouldn't start. The engine groaned and groaned.
"Cary!"
"It's okay. Just give me a second," he said. He hopped out and opened the hood, fidgeting.
"Hurry, Cary. She'll make so much trouble for you and your mother if she finds out about us."
He jiggled wires near the battery and tried again, and, thankfully, this time the engine started with a sputter. Then we shot off, bouncing so hard over the beach road, my head nearly hit the roof of the truck cab. Once on the street, he burned rubber until we arrived at Theresa's, just minutes before Raymond and the limousine. I didn't even have a chance to kiss Cary good night. Instead, I jumped out and ran to the house, where Theresa was waiting anxiously.
"You're cutting it kind of close, aren't you?" she remarked with a smile.
"We feel asleep," I whispered.
"No calls, at least."
Moments later, we saw the limousine pull up. I thanked her and rushed out, promising to call her in the morning.
Grandma Olivia's dinner party was still going when I arrived. Her guests were in the parlor talking. I was afraid of what I looked like since I hadn't had time to check my hair or straighten my clothes, but I knew if I didn't stop to say hello, she would be furious. I paused in the doorway.
"Good evening, Grandma," I said.
"Well, did you study hard?"
"Yes, Grandma."
"Good. My granddaughter is the prime valedictorian candidate this year."