Sweeter Than Wine (6 page)

Before she realized it, his hands had covered
her breast, and were making such erotic motions with the palm of
his hand. The peaks of her breast hardened against his sensuous
torture. She moaned again.

His lips swept downward, slowly. Agonizingly
slow. Was that her hips that sprung up to meet his hard passionate
thrusting? She suddenly felt his manhood warm and hard against her
lower belly. Sensations rocked her into a temporary lull of
happiness.

When the moistness of his mouth covered first
one breast then the other, she clutched him and moved her hips
toward him, in answer. There was no thought to reaction, just raw
feelings that had never been broached.

Suddenly the bridge swayed to one side and he
raised his head to look into her love drugged eyes. "Lacey, we're
on a bridge, in the middle of it, we can't make love here."

It was as if he woke her from a wondrous
sleep. She opened her eyes and saw that they were in open view. How
could she have let him do this? How could she have consented to his
love making out in the open like they were. Or anywhere for that
matter. Ashamed and embarrassed she tried to get up, tried to
fasten her bra. Tried to find a shred of dignity to the
situation.

Make love? Dear God, is that what they were
doing? She'd only met the man a few days ago and here she was
consenting to …what?

"We need to go," she said abruptly, as she
scrambled clumsily to her feet.

"Lacey, wait." he began, but she was already
going back the way she had come.

Her face was crimson; she could feel it with
her hands. She had never in her entire life let such a thing
happen.

Why now? Why with this man? It made no sense.
How could she lose all rational thought with a stranger?

"Lacey, I'm sorry, that got out of hand." he
began as he caught up to her.

Becoming rigid, she turned to face him, "Yes,
yes it did. And it will not happen again. Now, let's have a picnic
and go back to the hotel, I've had quite enough site-seeing for one
day."

"I didn't plan that," he began.

"Of course you didn't. You brought me out in
the wilds, acting the perfect gentleman. I must be completely
insane to let…"

"Stop it." he caught her arms. He looked deep
into her eyes." Nothing happened. It was a kiss, a harmless kiss. I
didn't take you." He corrected looking directly at her.

"A harmless kiss, we practically made love on
bridge in broad daylight. My God, I must be insane," she
wailed.

"I don't know why it happened. At least be an
adult and realize you were a willing participant. After all,
there's no harm done."

"Adult?" she suddenly realized all her
indignation was silly, childish. It was only a kiss. The fact that
his hands roamed freely over her, possessing her, was merely a
response. It would be ludicrous to make an issue of it, unless it
meant something. Lacey squashed her feelings entirely.

Looking at him now, she realized how upset he
had become too, "I'm sorry, I'm making more of it, than I should.
You're right. Let's have lunch. But from now on, I think we should
try a little more restraint. After all, we aren't a couple of wild
teenagers needing to grope each other. Let's be adults, as you put
it. I'm not out for a romp in bed with you. And you aren't using me
to replace your lover. So let's call a truce, and begin a hands off
policy, what do you say?"

He looked at her in shock. He certainly
hadn't expected that from her obviously.

He seemed speechless.

He nodded. "Okay…yeah, I guess you're right."
He raised his hand and looked deep into her eyes, "It will never
happen again on my honor, unless you want it to."

She nodded stiffly, "Good. Now, what's for
lunch?"

He looked around and a slow smile spread
across his face, "There's a chicken place down the road, sound
good?"

"Yes, chicken sounds great." She tried her
best to sound normal but deep down inside her; she knew she was far
from feeling that way. That kiss had shaken her to the core, broke
through all the built up fences she had long ago enforced on
herself. Made her realize just how human she was and how
vulnerable.

"Would you like to camp out in the woods, or
eat at the restaurant?"

"Maybe the restaurant, ants can be annoying."
She explained as though she had to have an explanation.

In her mind she replayed the kiss a million
times, trying to rationalize why she had responded so blatantly,
but she didn't know the answer. But another little voice told her
the answer, his kisses were sweeter than wine. She enjoyed it!

She knew getting involved with a man on
vacation could be detrimental to her own heart. She couldn’t allow
it. She wouldn't be his good time, she deserved better than
that.

Lacey felt herself weakening when he came
closer, "Now don't over react, but I think I need to put something
back in place first."

He reached around her, bringing his face
close to hers, and began fastening her bra. She held her breath,
and willed herself not to melt against him. What was this pull she
had for him? When he was near, she wanted to be in his arms. That
realization shook her. Had she lost all sense?

What power did he hold over her that he could
entice her so easily? It made no sense.

"There," he said in a low whisper as he moved
slowly away from her again.

"T-thank you," she said breathlessly.

"You know, you're quite a woman, Lacey." He
smiled seductively at her.

She tried to smile, tried to accept the
compliment. However, knowing she'd put restrictions on their
actions, she had to use her head.

"I'm starved, how about you?" she finally
managed when the glance went on too long.

"Okay, let's go," he motioned for her to get
on the back of the cycle and they took off down the highway
again.

Riding was a reprieve, from having to say
anything, having to explain, having to ignore this new tension
between them.

At the Express Chicken restaurant they
encountered a long line of people. Sam watched with amusement as
one woman couldn't make up her mind what she wanted, one lady had
four kids and couldn't get their orders straight, a man stood
impatiently waiting for his order, and a teenage couple were
standing in line making out. He watched them and his whole body
went through the reactions of his kiss with Lacey. The kiss had
sparked a fire he still hadn't put out. He didn't know why he
reacted that way. It puzzled him. He wasn’t a man with raging
hormones, nor a teenager. He was an adult. So why had red hot
desire taken over? What mattered most is he had scared her too. How
could he do that? Coming on too strong with a woman he hardly
knew.

When he kissed her both last night and today,
he felt as though something happened, something bonded, something
cemented to him. Her kiss was nothing short of reckless abandon,
exciting and enticing! As though coming together with her was as
natural as breathing. How could that be? He wasn't seeking a
relationship with this woman. Was he? No, of course he wasn't. But
he knew he did want her. Maybe it was just the basic male instincts
had kicked in.

It had been a long time. Had he forgotten
what it was like to be with a female. No, he hadn't forgotten, but
he'd never considered himself a lustful man either.

He watched the teenagers with amusement. He
remembered how he had been at that age, young, vibrant, ready to
take on the world.

He frowned, the teenagers were doing
everything but removing their clothes and making love. Given some
encouragement, Sam could imagine that happening between him and
Lacey. What had occurred between them was natural he knew that. Yet
an adult should be able to control himself, he thought. He knew he
couldn’t carry his desire any further unless she was completely
willing.

Lacey excused herself to the restroom and
came out as he was paying for their meal. She reached into her
purse and pulled out a ten, handing it to him.

He looked puzzled. "What's this for?"

"My dinner, I certainly don't expect you to
pay for my food," She took one of the sacks from him and they
walked outside together.

"So we're going dutch too?"

"Of course," she quipped finding a small
table on the patio, she sat down and waited for him to join
her.

"How refreshing," his sarcasm didn't escape
her as she eyed him contemptuously.

"Don't let this burn your ego, Sam. I'm
enjoying this little adventure no end, but I certainly don't expect
you to pay my way. We'll split everything down the middle and that
way, I won't feel indebted to you." She said, stirring some sugar
into her tea.

"Indebted?" He shook his head and glared at
her, "For a meal?"

"Don't look so incredulous. You are showing
me a good time, and I'm enjoying it, but once you start treating me
to everything…it becomes something else. We are both adults, Sam.
You've got enough problems without me adding to them…I like you, I
really do…."

"You what?"

"I've never experienced this much fun with a
man before, but I want to go on enjoying it. I'm not going with you
for a roll in the hay. I won't be your lover. At least that's not
my intention. But we can be friends." She insisted taking a bite
and turning to watch the teenage couple leaving hand in hand.

"I don't think I ask you to be my lover," His
indignation rose like bile.

"Of course you did, back on the bridge, and I
nearly said yes. However, that was before good sense prevailed.
Sam," she looked him right in the eyes now, daring him to refute
the truth of her statements. "I like you. I do. But I want to go on
liking you. I want to remember this summer as a wonderful vacation,
in which I spent with a charming man. You. I'm no one-night stand,
any more than you are out here looking for a mate. So let's be
sensible and put our raging hormones to rest."

When his frown spoke anger, she shook her
head and looked away.

"Sam, please try to understand. We might be
older, but I can still get pregnant. I don't want that, unless I'm
married. I'm a teacher; I'm expected to uphold a few standards even
today, and I don't want a few wonderful nights in bed with
you."

Lacy watched him as he stood up, insulted,
enraged, surprised by her good sense, outraged by her lack of tact.
He paced around her then looked at her, "I don't know whether to
throw something at you or kiss you again."

She laughed, a wonderful free laugh, a heady
laugh.

"Pardon me, Lacey, but I've met few women
with your good sense. From now on, there will be no more hands on
communication between us. I'll treat you like a man. I am sorry if
I took the advantage. It isn't like me. Maybe…it's only because
it's been so long…"

Lacey's face changed suddenly to
understanding, and she nodded, she eyed his hand, as though she
wanted to touch it, but she refrained.

"I'm sure your right. Now that we have
settled that, let's figure out what we can do about lodging for the
evening."

Sam watched her every move, liking her shy
but graceful movements. He liked many things about Lacey, and he
hadn't a clue why. She irritated him as much as pleased him.
However, there was a spark between them threatening to spread like
a fire.

Taking a deep breath he nodded and smiled at
her, "We have two choices. We can return to our hotel, or find
another inn."

Lacey shrugged, "Well, it seems silly to go
back to the hotel and then come back this way again tomorrow. Why
don't we find something down the road, that way we won't be miles
from the redwoods."

"All right, we will take our chances then."
He smiled. "You really are a good sport Lacey, and I'm sorry for
taking the advantage."

Lacey's smile didn't quite reach her lips,
and he thought he saw a tremor in her hand, "There is absolutely
nothing to be sorry about, now let's go find us a place before it
gets too dark."

* * *

As Lacey grabbed his waist and hung on, she
wondered how she had ever pulled off being so callus or cool. His
kisses had shocked her, made her come to life, invigorated her, and
made her want more of them. She seemed to turn into some she-demon
when he kissed her, hungry for his kisses and touches too.

Still, she couldn't tell him that.

No, she was doing the right thing, putting a
few rules up. It was fine to have fun, as long as no one got hurt.
And she didn't want to be that someone. She had come an inch of
letting Sam take that advantage, wanting him to. She was drawn to
Sam's charm. However, letting him know it, would be detrimental to
her heart. Sam wasn't seeking a relationship, and there was no
future with this man. He had to remain nothing more than a friend.
She refused to go home with a broken heart.

It was almost dark when they found an off the
road inn. Sam stopped, "How about this place?"

"Looks great." She smiled wearily. "Let's try
it."

"Hey, you are tired. Let's go see if we can
find a good nights sleep." He winked.

Although he took her hand to help her off,
she released it quickly.

"I'm sorry," the innkeeper shook his head,
"I've got one room and that's it." The short little man behind the
counter said looking over the rim of his glasses at them.

"How many beds does it have?" Sam asked his
expression serious.

"One King size bed, and I ain't got no
rollaway." The man said as though exasperated at answering that
question all day.

"Conventions in town or something?" Sam
inquired.

"Nope, fishing tournament. We were booked
solid, but one fella decided he wouldn't be staying. Something
about his wife calling and them having a baby." The innkeeper shot
them a look over his reading glasses. "So you want it or not?"