“What is this place?” Winter stared around us curiously as I grabbed the large duffel bag I’d brought with me, heaving it over my shoulder.
“It’s…” I hesitated. “Not sure, to be honest. All I know is, it’s a dip at the top of the hill, and it’ll keep the wind off us.”
“Okay.” She nodded, accepting my words, coming around to the front of my R8 as I carried the duffel bag into the large scooped-out area I’d parked in front of.
I glanced up, giving her a quick smile which she returned. She watched, sitting on the hood of my car as I spread out a blanket on the soft grass and laid out supplies on it. I didn’t do romance, never had, but for her, I’d try my fucking hardest.
“Come here,” I instructed, and she swung her long legs off my car and onto the ground.
I drank her in as she walked towards me. Even dressed down, she was fucking beautiful. She had a thick royal blue hoodie on over her top—one of mine, in fact—and she had pulled the ends down over her hands to keep them warm. I fucking loved her in my clothes.
She sank down onto the blanket next to me, and I leaned over, giving her a quick kiss before I resumed unpacking the bag.
“Lie back.” I put a small pillow down behind her.
“Is that from your bed?” She turned around to stare at it, then back at me.
“Yeah. Now lie down on your back.”
She eyed me, curiosity gleaming in her bright blue eyes. The night sky was studded with stars, and I had no problem seeing her. She lay down on her back, her pouty lips curving up into a smile. I couldn’t fucking help myself—I leaned over her, kissing her soft lips, and she threw her arms around my neck, pulling me down on top of her.
“Mmm. I like this,” she murmured, when I eventually managed to tear myself away from her mouth, my dick throbbing, needing to be inside her. What was I doing?
“You make me forget my own fucking name.” My voice was hoarse as I looked into her eyes, our breaths mingling. “That wasn’t what I brought you up here for.”
“It wasn’t?”
I had to laugh at the surprise on her face. “As much as I wanna be buried inside you right now, I am capable of other things. And right now, this is what I came here for.” I climbed up to my knees, adjusting my hard-on, and moved over to the duffel bag.
“Here. In case you get cold.” I handed her another thick, fluffy blanket which she arranged over herself, pulling it up to her chin so just her head was poking out, and she grinned happily at me. “Stay there and don’t look.”
Back to the car for the other thing I’d brought with me. I arranged it behind her so she couldn’t see what I was doing. I took my time, wanting to get it just right, before I went over to her.
“Come here.” I tugged her to her feet. “Do you trust me?”
Our gazes met, and held. “With my life.” There was zero hesitation in her voice as we stared at one another.
“Close your eyes, and don’t open them until I say.” I led her to where I wanted her to be, putting my hands on her waist to manoeuvre her into position. Coming around behind her, I threaded my fingers through her silky hair and brushed it away from her face.
“Am I allowed to look yet?” I could hear the anticipation in her voice, her long lashes fluttering as she battled between obeying my command to keep her eyes closed, and wanting to see what was waiting for her.
I banded my arms around her waist, then skimmed my lips across her ear. “Open your eyes.”
She stared in front of her silently for a long moment, and my stomach twisted. Shit, what if this had been a bad idea? Was it going to bring back unwanted memories?
“You know what today is, then? Not just that it’s my birthday?” Her voice was small and shaky, but full of wonder as she reached out her hand to trace the cool metal of the telescope.
“I did some research. I remembered what you started to tell me before the party that night, and I figured that if it was important enough for you to tattoo a permanent reminder of it onto your skin, it was important to learn as much as I could about it.”
“You remembered that?”
“Yeah.”
“Cade. I love you so fucking much.” She spun in my arms, crashing her lips onto mine. Fucking fireworks lit inside me, and I picked her up, holding her as she moulded her body against mine. I was lost. Lost in my girl.
I finally lowered her to the floor, and she looked up at me, her eyes glassy with unshed tears, a huge smile on her face. “This is the best birthday ever.”
My phone alarm beeped in my pocket, cutting off whatever I was about to say and reminding me why we were here. “Look through the telescope, baby. You don’t want to miss the show.”