Racing Savannah

Star sniffs my hair and nuzzles his neck between our heads. Jack and I break apart.
“Is my horse trying to cock block me?” he whispers in my ear.
“Appears so.”
“If he hadn’t done so well, I’d send him to New York to drag a tourist carriage. For real this time.”

I want someone I can laugh, cuddle, and talk with anytime I want, someone who truly wants me. Loves me.

For a lot of reasons, I think. To have lots of paths to choose from. To have the ability to back out of something if it’s not quite what I want. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…and I want to take the one less traveled by.

He’s nice and he kissed my cheek and he treated me well. What more can I ask for?
But later that night, against my better judgment, I curl up with the pink unicorn and stare out my little rectangular window at the stars, imagining Jack’s arms around me.

He turns me around and we kiss again until he murmurs breathlessly, “God, you’re beautiful.”
I didn’t know how bad I needed to hear that until he said it. He already had me in his bed wearing only my underwear. He didn’t have to say I’m beautiful.
But he did.

I love that we worked together to make this happen. I’ve never felt so strong, like I could lift a boulder. Like I could do magic.

I lean closer, snuggling under his arm, and rest a hand on his strong chest. Our breathing races out of control. He brushes my hair behind my ears and kisses my neck until I’m shaking all over.
“Truth or dare?” I whisper.
“Dare.”
“I dare you to kiss m—”
His mouth captures mine and teases me into a long kiss. He weaves his hands in my hair and pulls me closer as I run one hand over his knee and cup his neck with the other. His pulse slams against my palm. His strong hands sweep over my shoulders and thighs, leaving me tingly and warm and feeling beautiful. I wish this had been my first kiss. It’s perfect.

He’s not my boss out here under the stars.

. He laughs at whatever she’s saying, probably making her feel like she’s the only girl at the party. Like how I feel when I’m around him.

You are really pretty…” He drags a hand through his blond hair. “But you’re kind of like a great book…you know, you pick up a book at the bookstore because it has a beautiful cover…but it’s what’s inside that pulls you in.”