Discipline

I tilted my head and laughed. “I understand what you’re saying.”

“Thought you might.”

“So when was the last time you’d been here?”

Despite outward composure, something flickered in Daniel’s eye. “Four years ago this month. Right after my dad died. To see if I could feel him here even if he wasn’t with me.”

My heart dropped into my stomach. “I’m so sorry.” I should’ve known it was a risky question.

He shook his head. “Don’t be. We knew when it was going to be his last few months and luckily, they fell during the summer.”

“So you were able to see him a lot.”

“Every day. And he was just… sharp as hell till the day he went. Arguing about books with me, pointing out things I’d never noticed. Telling me I was crazy for not liking this book, ‘your grandfather would’ve loved this book.’ That kind of thing.”

My heart swelled at the picture he painted. “That’s incredible.” Jogging my mind, I tried to think of my fondest family memories and moments. All that came to mind were gifts. Things that Mom had bought for me. The gypsy horse she’d rented for my tenth birthday party. It was for the other kids though — my dress had been too expensive to get dirty.

“Hey, hey, ocean bucket here,” our server’s voice broke my from my thoughts, as did the tinny clanking of a bucket on our table.

Daniel laughed at my reaction to the “ocean bucket” — a massive pail overflowing with crab leg, lobster claw, clams and shrimp, the sides lined with fat lemon wedges, corn and red potatoes. I simply stared, my stomach suddenly growling and overpowering whatever sliver of me hoped to look graceful and pretty for Daniel tonight.

“This is what we used to order. Two of them,” Daniel chuckled. I could feel him staring at me. “You ready to get dirty?” he asked.

I looked up, my face serious. “So ready.”

“Good, that’s what I like to hear.” He seemed truly pleased by my answer. Eyeing me, he nodded at the crab legs and lifted an eyebrow. “Need me to crack ‘em for you?”

I blinked incredulously. “Are you kidding?”

“Just asking.” He paused before breaking into a sexy grin that stole my breath. “Had a feeling you were the one to bring here.”

I tilted my head and after a few seconds, managed to utter something. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

A light breeze blowing through the deck, we shared a smile. And then we dug in.

CHAPTER 11

Normally, I needed headphones to survive a long subway ride, but I’d yet to take them out of my bag this morning, every inch of my brain still occupied by Daniel.

After leaving the shack, we’d walked aimlessly for almost two hours. Our feet were craving rest by the time we stumbled upon the moonlit park. It stretched across so many blocks that we couldn’t see its end. All we saw was a brick path lined with unlit street lamps and benches. It was a perfect find so of course, the place was closed.

But sore feet aside, I had simply liked the way the park looked. So without a word, I’d hoisted myself over the gate, Daniel watching me for a few seconds, shaking his head in disbelief before scaling the gate himself. And so damned easily. It’d been effortless for his hyper-athletic body.

And after that, we were alone in what was probably a hundred acres of park.

Curiously, during our walk, we found a single street lamp lit in a forest of darkness. Under it, we’d kissed for what could’ve been ten minutes or an hour — I hadn’t kept track. It felt too good to keep track.

And though I’d done a good job surviving dinner, his lips, his tongue had me aching for him again, taking his hands and guiding them to the parts of my body that I wanted touched.

“You fucking love torturing me.” His words had been more of a groan than a laugh as I’d cupped his hands over my breasts, inviting him to touch me as he pleased. He did, his hands stroking, rubbing and gradually kneading so heatedly that two buttons from my top tore off, bouncing like pebbles onto the ground before rolling and settling into the grass somewhere.

But we didn’t do anything beyond that.

Whattt I thought he fantasized about having sex in public. Why didn’t you guys just do it in a tree?

My phone received Adriana’s text as I got out of the subway on 14th Street. I smirked as I responded. Almost did in the field to be honest but no condom and then he forced himself to go home. Her reply was prompt.