“As I said, you don’t miss what you haven’t had.” She shrugged. “Though if tonight was anything to go by, maybe I should miss it.”
“Tonight was a only a taste. Sex isn’t only about orgasms or even about the act itself. It’s about connecting, loving, wanting to give each other pleasure. It’s about feeling naked skin on naked skin, warm and delicious. It’s about the two of us and nothing else.”
“You sound like you’ve had a lot of experience.”
“Some.” He didn’t want to talk about other girls. Didn’t want to talk about his past. He was too busy thinking about hers. “Enough to know how good it can be.” He traced his finger along her jaw, lingering at her mouth. “Let me show you.”
Her eyes widened. “Here?”
He chuckled. “No, not here. When we make love it’s going to be under a roof, maybe in a bed, where nobody else can see us.”
“Maybe in a bed,” she repeated. “Where else would you want to do it?” He could feel her muscles form into a smile. Her eyes were sparkling.
“We’d start off in bed, but maybe we’d need a shower, or maybe we’d lean against the wall. I can promise you once we’ve done it the first time, it will never be enough.”
It never would be for him. The thought of showing her what she was missing, of teaching her things that would rock her world, was enticing. It took every piece of self control he had not to start right here, right now.
Her chest hitched. “When?”
“When what?” He raised his eyebrows.
“When can we see each other again? When can you show me what I’ve been missing out on?”
Her enthusiasm gratified him. “As soon as you arrange for a sitter. An all night one. Because once you’re in my bed, I’m not going to want to let go of you until morning.”
She nodded slowly, braver now, keeping her eyes on his. “In that case, it’s a date.”
* * *
“Are you guys free on Saturday?” Brooke asked. “I need a sitter for Nick, and I was wondering if he could stay over.”
Ember raised an eyebrow, pouring cream into her coffee. Behind them she could hear Ally talking to a customer, taking his breakfast order. “Yeah, we haven’t got anything planned. What are you up to?”
“Aiden’s asked me out again.” Brooke couldn’t stop the smile from pulling at her lips.
“Mmhmm.” Ember nodded. “This is the guy who isn’t interested in you, right?”
“You can stop it. I concede. You were right and I was wrong. Happy now?” Brooke’s tone was teasing.
“I can tell you’re happy, which is the most important thing. So I’m guessing the first date went well.”
“It was heaven.” She sighed, a smile pulling at her lips.
Ember leaned forward, her elbows on the formica table. “Heaven? Tell me more.”
“Ugh, I swear this day can go take a jump off the boardwalk.” Ally pulled a chair out, slumping dramatically on the table. “How the hell am I supposed to serve breakfast when we don’t have any eggs?”
“No eggs?” Brooke winced. “There goes our order.”
“What happened?” Ember frowned. “Did your delivery not come?”
“Nope, and Nate’s spitting buckets. I heard him on the phone earlier, reaming out the supplier.” Ally sighed. “I had to remind him I’m the manager of this place and it’s up to me to do the reaming.”
Brooke tried not to grin. Despite Ally’s shaking head, she and Nate made a great team. He owned coffee shops all down the West Coast, but it had been her idea to brand the beachside ones differently. She’d even thought of the name – Coastal Coffee – and from the looks of how busy the shop was, her idea was going down a storm with locals and tourists alike.
When Nate had asked her to come and manage the shop, he’d promised that she’d have free rein. After all, he had a huge business to run. But he was also hugely protective of Ally and looked after her the way she deserved. Including ranting at suppliers when they didn’t do their job.
“Talking of spitting buckets, your mom came in to the café yesterday.” Ally raised her eyebrow at Brooke.