Eli removed my arms from his neck and walked back to the car. In the cab was a picnic basket and blanket. Tears formed at my lids. I couldn’t stand it. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me.
“Oh, now don’t go crying,” Eli said, setting down the basket and walking toward me.
“I can’t help it. This is just too much.”
“It’s not enough,” Eli stated simply.
The dinner he’d made was simple but delicious. He’d prepared ham sandwiches with strawberries and chocolate, and had somehow finagled a box of wine. We ate it up fast and were quickly alone with nothing but the flowers and the sky above us.
“It was really good,” I said, trying to break the tension that had surrounded us. Eli hadn’t stopped staring at me since the meal had ended. With his gaze on me I felt hot and itchy, even though it was a cool night. I chewed at my lip.
“Come ‘ere.” Eli gestured for me. We currently had a wide space between us, the checkered blanket acting as a buffer. Eli and I had kissed before, and I mean really kissed. We had shared tongues and hot hands, but that was it. I loved kissing Eli. I loved touching Eli. I was sure I would love going further with Eli, but…
Daddy’s voice rang strong in my ear. I wanted to silence that voice and give it no credence. I loved Eli, body, soul, and mind.
“What are you thinkin’ Bug?” Eli asked, his voice like a knife through my hardening thoughts.
“Nothin’,” I lied.
“I can see your thoughts swirlin’ as easy as I can see a tornado,” Eli responded. “You know I won’t go further with you than you want. I love you, Gracie. This day is about you. Come here.” I smiled at his response.
My Eli. He always knew what to say. He always seemed to be able to crawl inside my brain and pick my thoughts apart, even if I didn’t know what I was thinking. I crawled across the blanket and situated myself in his lap.
“We’ll have a good view of the stars tonight,” Eli whispered in my ear. I knew he’d said he wouldn’t try anything with me, but what if I wanted to try? Sitting in his lap with his arms wrapped tight around me, I couldn’t concentrate on his words. I felt tingly all over.
My stomach was in knots. My breathing was erratic. There was this feeling in my legs, the kind you get after running a whole lot, only I hadn’t been running at all. I felt absolutely drunk and I’d only had one glass of wine. I started wiggling in his lap, trying to get control of all the tingling and throbbing running wild in my body.
Eli gripped my arms. “Bug?”
“Yeah?” I asked, my voice a little breathy.
“What are you doin’?”
“What do you mean?” I didn’t know how to answer that. I didn’t know what I was doing. I felt weird, so I was trying to fix it.
“Why are you moving like that?” Eli asked. His voice sounded a little strained, but then that might have just been from me crushing his chest.
“I…” Oh, he’ll just figure it out anyway. I could never lie to Eli. “I don’t know,” I answered truthfully. “Whenever I’m with you, I get this feeling all over. I start to tingle and throb. It’s so uncomfortable.”
Quicker than I could think Eli was on top of me. He’d been on top of me before, but it usually happened slower. We would be makin’ out and then gradually he’d be on top of me. This time, he spun me off his lap and threw me on the blanket. I gasped, shocked and really, really uncomfortable.
“Where are you uncomfortable?” Eli asked, his voice sounding strained again.
“Everywhere,” I responded. Eli gave me that look again, the one that said I couldn’t lie to him. “Between my legs,” I conceded. Eli placed his hand on my belly. My shirt had ridden up when he’d thrown me down so I was bare there. I felt his hand against my naked skin and the throbbing intensified.
He kept his hand flush against my skin for a few moments and neither of us spoke. Our ragged breathing was the only sound for miles. Slowly, Eli lowered his hand.
“Eli?” I asked, worry lacing my voice.
“Trust me,” Eli answered, a hard determination in his voice. I felt his hand with acute sensation. Every wrinkle in his skin vibrated against me. Even through the fabric of my pants I felt him. As he carefully lowered his palm between the juncture of my thighs, my eyes widened.
“Here?” His voice was a husky demand. I nodded, unable to speak. He pressed his palm harder against me and my eyes widened. The throbbing was practically a thumping now. I ground my teeth, trying not to squirm against him. Eli started to rub me through the fabric of my jeans and my mouth opened in a silent sigh.
“Does this feel good?” he asked, his eyes locked on mine. I nodded frantically. The foreign sensation was equal parts terrifying and euphoric. “Tell me if you want me to stop, Gracie.”
“Please don’t stop!” I practically begged. Eli pushed harder and I couldn’t contain it any more. I moaned. Eli leaned down, his hand still on me, and kissed me.
“I like that sound,” Eli whispered against my lips, pressing his palm harder against me. I moaned again and Eli captured my mouth with his. The kiss combined with the rubbing made me feverish. I was thirsty for more.