“If I told you, it’d ruin the surprise.”
Today is Friday. We’ve spent five magically perfect days basking in the newness of our relationship. Monday night we laid our secrets to rest in the quiet privacy of my bedroom, and since then, our pathway has been paved with happiness. Since Monday night Tatum has fallen asleep at night securely in my arms, and each morning after, I’ve made love to her before we get ready for school.
Her usual demeanor has been replaced with an ethereal happiness. As much as I miss her sarcasm, the look of love in her eyes and the contentment of her smile is a hundred times better. This Tatum doesn’t have to hide her feelings behind her sharp remarks. Instead, she shares them with simple gestures. A shy smile, a gentle brush of her hand when we pass in the hall, a secretive sexy text message. Over the past week, she’s proven to me we’re in this together. Now it’s my turn to repay the contentment she’s brought to my life.
The pieces are smoothly falling into place. Even Wyatt has seemed to stop his ridiculous chase. Tatum shared with me that he still texts her a few times a week, declaring to get her back, but we both know he has no chance. She’s been staying at my place, and if I have my way, she’ll be staying with me permanently.
Somehow, I managed to convince her to leave her back alley gun at her apartment, so she doesn’t accidently shoot the fucker if he were to show up at my door. Even though he’d deserve it, I don’t want to have to visit her in prison. I was enraged when she bought the thing, but after spending two weeks without her, knowing he was still trying to get to her, I can’t deny I’m glad she was protected. But I’m back, and I’d lay down my life to protect hers. She doesn’t need it anymore.
“I hate surprises,” she grumbles. The sound brings another smile to my face.
“Oh no. You’ll love this one. Trust me,” I respond while slowing the car to turn left towards the last leg of our journey. We’ve been in the car nearly forty minutes, and I’m as antsy as she is to get there. Maybe even more so. “And if you hate it, we can spend all weekend in the hotel room.”
She whips around to face me, her gorgeous brown locks spinning around her face. “We’re going to a hotel?”
I glance over at her to take in her expression. Shock and excitement are written all over her beautiful face, and the sight makes my heart constrict. If I could spend the rest of my life putting that look on her face, it wouldn’t be enough.
I nod. “Yup. A small hotel, so don’t get your hopes up too much. It isn’t a five star resort. But that’s not even your surprise.”
My car races down the highway, trees whipping past in a multitude of green shades as I press the pedal a little bit harder than necessary. Her excitement ratchets my own, and I’m eager to get us there.
“There’s more?” she breathes so softly, I chuckle. My hand finds her jean covered knee, and I squeeze. She wraps both of her soft, delicate hands around mine and sighs.
“I’ve already revealed too much. You’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Whatever,” she grumbles again, but leans her head against the headrest with her face turned towards the sun. She doesn’t release my hand. Her eyes are covered, but I think they’re closed judging by the relaxation written all over her face.
Contentment washes over me as the car eats up the final miles towards our weekend destination. The point of this trip was to be alone. To be free. In town, we’re surrounded by locals so we’ve had to be careful. I’m still her teacher for a few more weeks, and until she finishes the semester, we aren’t safe. My heart longs for my girl, longs to be able to show her how I feel, to take her on a date. I want to dance with her in the middle of Main Street and kiss her for the world to see. I want to claim her and shout to the universe she’s mine. But I can’t. Until December.
So this is my compromise. This is our date. An entire weekend away to be us, to be free, without the judgmental eyes of our peers. Without the fear of discovery or spending all our time locked behind the quiet door of my home. As much as I love taking her in my bed, there’s more to be discovered in our relationship. As much as I love her body, I want her mind, and I crave her heart. Until she graduates, this is all I have to offer.
A few minutes later I pull up beside the hotel and cut the engine. Tatum stirs beside me, lifting her shades onto her hair to look around. I take a minute to soak her in while she studies the structure before us. I told her to get ready before we left so we didn’t have to waste any time in the hotel. She’s wearing a pair of black leggings with gray heeled boots that make her legs look lean and long. She has on a flowing, white top that just barely covers the curve of her ass and a gray sweater on top of it. Her outfit is such a contrast to her normal jeans and tees. She is walking perfection, and if we didn’t have somewhere to be, I’d drag her into the hotel room and not come out until Sunday night.
On that thought, I tell her, my voice rough and quiet, “Wait here. I’ll be right back.” She nods, and I climb out to check us in and drop our bags in our room. I don’t want to deal with our stuff later. Knowing what I have planned, when we get back, the only thing on my mind will be how to get her into bed as quickly as possible.
I jog back to the car after unloading our things, excited to get our evening started.
We drive another two miles up the road, and surprisingly, Tatum keeps quiet. I know she’s burning with eagerness, but she knows I won’t spill. I could guess this girl hasn’t had many surprises of the positive variety in her life, so I’m not giving in until I can give one to her.
I manage to find a parking space in the full lot and quickly climb out to open Tatum’s door for her.
“What is this place?” she asks, as I take her hand and lead her towards the door.
“You’ll see,” I respond with a wink, and she lets out the most adorable huff beside me. She can pout all she wants, but the anticipation radiating off of her is more than worth her little bit of frustration.
The lodge in front of us looks entirely unassuming. The outside is all old wood logs and frosted windows, and a chimney sits on the roof releasing billowing plumes of smoke from the fireplace I know to be inside.
I open the door and lead us both inside the warm building. We stop barely inside the door, and I smile over at the angel beside me as her face transforms from one of confusion to one of pure awe.
My chest swells with pride in the knowledge that I put that look on her face. Life just handed me another gift.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Tatum
Oh my God. My heart beats so quickly, I’m sure I’m about to keel over in cardiac arrest. I move in a slow pirouette as I’m mesmerized by the interior of the wood lodge we’ve stepped into. It’s not really a lodge at all, though. The building is more of an upscale restaurant and bar, and it has a dance floor!
The ceiling is all exposed wood beams, which meet in the corners of the unfinished walls. The room is rustic and beautiful. To my left is the restaurant; tables with white table cloths and single candles in the center, wait staff in pressed black slacks and crisp white shirts. On the right is the bar; a long, lacquered top running along the length of the wall and lined with bar stools. The perimeter has small, two-top tables surrounding the dance floor. Along the back wall, a DJ uses his equipment to switch songs. Between the two sides is a huge glass encased fire place with a hearty fire roaring quietly inside.
The place reminds me of a wedding reception. It’s warm and romantic and beautiful. I have never, in my entire life, been anywhere even remotely close to this. I’m a bit overwhelmed.