“For you, darling, I’m an open book, and I can open other things.”
I chuckled and turned around. Giving his arm a light slap, I said, “Alright, my Casanova, where to next?”
“Oh, you’ll see.”
***
The thick picnic blanket was laid out before me, and I leaned down on it. Beside me, Callum sat cross-legged as he pulled an assortment of sandwiches and salads from the basket he’d also brought. We’d spent the afternoon hand in hand, strolling through the trails and odd statues at the National Botanical Gardens. I’d seen attempts at Greek statues that were headless and bigger, more rounded than any Venus de Milo I’d ever encountered. There were bone-colored, plaster monkey heads on pikes. All mingled in with a plethora of different blossoms and beautiful archways. Currently, we were on the lawn overlooking the greenhouse. It was a two-story glass structure with a spiraling dome, something completely at home with Victorian times, which had to be when it had been built.
The sun was setting behind it, turning the sky shades of lavender, gold, and orange and having the same effect on the panes of glass in the greenhouse. It almost seemed to shine in the dimming light.
Callum handed me a sandwich, and I grinned at him.
“Did you make these yourself?” I asked.
“I can cook a little.”
I bit into the delightfully tasty tuna salad sandwich. He’d added something for a bit of kick along with the mayonnaise. Maybe some celery seed or cumin? At any rate, it was delectable, and I hungrily bit into another section of the sandwich.
“You did a good job.”
“I also make a mean set of deviled eggs, and you haven’t tasted the brownies yet.”
“When did you channel your inner Martha Stewart?”
“When I had a beautiful woman to impress. I’ve been thinking about this picnic the last couple days. Also, when my great-gran wasn’t getting a wee bit tipsy, she taught me a few things.”
I picked up a brownie even though I wasn’t done with my sandwich yet. With Callum, skipping to the good parts was always the best policy. “God!” I exclaimed and, okay, maybe moaned a bit. “This is the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth.”
He laughed and scooted over to me. Callum trailed his fingers over my thigh, exposed up past the thigh through the fabric of my dress. His hands were callused just a bit, and I wondered what he’d done to earn that rough touch.
“Oh, luv, there will be other, better things to put between those pillowy lips of yours.”
I bit into the brownie again and moaned exaggeratedly for effect. “I don’t think anything could be as good as your chocolate.”
He squeezed my thigh, promising me so much more when we finished up here and returned to our suite. “Vixen, don’t play that naïve. My cock will be so much better than anything cocoa-based.”
I licked my lips, taking care to run my tongue over every exposed corner. “Oh, Cal, I don’t know about that.” My voice was breathy as I said it, like I was doing my best Marilyn Monroe impression. Then I couldn’t keep up the pillow talk; it was just so over-the-top. I broke out laughing and fell into his arms. “About later tonight…can I be honest with you?”
“You’re a virgin?” he asked, and the playfulness was out of his voice too. His ice blue eyes regarded me only with kindness and concern. “I figured that.”
I gulped, and my cheeks flared with warmth again. Looking down at the ground, I traced my fingers over the blades of grass. It was easier than looking at him, no matter how sweet his expression, how understanding his gaze. “Was it that obvious?”
“You were shy and eager and oh so tight. Yes, luv, you weren’t hiding it as well as you thought you were. Trust me, we’ll do whatever you need for your first time, make it whatever you want.”
“I want you to lead me.” It surprised me to have those words tumbling from my mouth. “I know that it’s usually about what makes me comfortable, what makes me feel safe, but I’m most fulfilled with you. What we’ve been doing in your office…I always trust what we do. You’re giving me so much pleasure so far. I’m scared, yeah. I know it’s a big deal, even if it’s not 1950 and this is not some promise ring thing. It’s just…you know how to make me feel good, and I trust you to keep doing that.”
I leaned in closer to him, and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder while supporting both our weights with the other arm. He kissed my temple. “Luv, that’s an honor, that you trust me to give you the best pleasure of your life.”
“This is so crazy,” I said, finally daring to look up into his Arctic eyes, to lose myself in them. There was nothing but a deep earnestness there now. “It’s not even a week, but I feel like my whole life has been changing. This is supposed to be just a chance, a whatever might come, but it feels more special, like I’m probably just some dumb teenager.”
“You’re barely out of it.”
“Nah, I’m almost a college grad, and I know life isn’t hearts and flowers and happy Disney endings.”
He laughed and then gripped my earlobe decisively between his teeth. He flicked his tongue against the skin there, and my clit throbbed in time with his efforts. It was so overwhelming to be in his control, but so intoxicating. I just wanted it to last longer than it logically could.
When he pulled away, he squeezed my thigh again. “Vixen, I don’t think anything we’re doing qualifies as Disney-approved entertainment. I think we’d make that bloody mouse fall over with a heart attack.”