* * *
Turning back around, I start walking toward the stage when someone laces their fingers with my left hand. Electricity tingles up my arm, my body heats with desire. Our hands fit together perfectly and I smile. Looking to the left, I’m met with the smiling face of Nate.
* * *
“Nate.”
* * *
“Bailey.”
* * *
No other words are said.
No other words are needed.
Everything in this moment is perfect.
* * *
Our steps fall into sync as we walk over to a recently vacated table and chairs and sit down. Our hands are still clasped together over the top of the sticky table, and we stare deeply into each other’s eyes. Down into each other’s souls. I feel like I have stared at these eyes many times before. “I feel like I know you,” I whisper.
* * *
“I know what you mean. When you walked in, my sixth sense sparked to life, and then I looked over and saw you. Time stood still in that moment, and then I saw you with him and my heart deflated.” His shoulders drop as he says that.
* * *
“William? He’s my roommate’s brother.”
* * *
“So you’re not together?”
* * *
I shake my head. “No, I thought maybe something would eventuate between us, but I was always hesitant ‘cause he can be an ass at times.” Nate laughs at this. “I’m really not so sure anymore because...” I’m looking directly at him as I say this and leave it hanging. My words register in his brain and his face lights up. Gently rubbing my thumb over the back of his hand, we continue to stare at one another. As I gaze into his eyes, I feel at ease. Even though I have just met him, it feels like I have known him much longer.
* * *
“Because you feel it too, don’t you? This pull. This connection. It’s like we are the missing half of the other.”
* * *
Nodding my head in agreement, I whisper, “Yes.”
* * *
He leans across the table toward me. I lean forward to him. Our lips meet. My tongue seeks access to his mouth and he lets me in. Our tongues dance erotically together. All the air in my lungs gets sucked into this kiss; this wonderful, amazing, make you weak at the knees kiss. It’s soft. It’s slow. It’s sensual. It’s so different to the one earlier, that kiss was rough and hungry.
* * *
Breaking the kiss, I lean back into my seat and stare across the table at him. My lips curl up in a smile, my eyes bright and my heart racing faster than ever before. What is this man doing to me? I think to myself, as I grab my drink and take a sip.
* * *
“So, tell me about yourself, Nathaniel.”
* * *
“How did you know my full name was Nathaniel?”
* * *
Hesitantly I stare at him. “I, umm, ahh, I didn’t know. I just presumed and it was obviously a lucky guess.”
* * *
“Yeah, let’s go with that,” he replies with a wink. I feel that wink deep in my soul and a feeling of déjà vu washes over me; I swear I’ve seen that wink before. “Anyway, I’m your average guy. I work in construction; I’m currently working in Lower Manhattan on a building called the World Trade Center. I started just after they broke ground back in ’66, and I’ve been there ever since. It’s hard going but I love it.” He takes a sip of my lemonade, and I intensely watch as his tongue darts out and swipes his bottom lip. Who knew licking a lip could be so erotic? “And what do you do?”
* * *
“I work in our family bar, Beckett’s. It’s been in our family for two generations now. When Daddy passes it will be handed down to me, since I’m an only child.”
* * *
“I don’t think I have ever drank there.”
* * *
I clutch my chest and feign shock. “Well, we cannot have that. You will have to come by this week. Grandmother makes the best shepherd’s pie around.”
* * *
“Well then, I must stop by this week sometime.” He winks at me, and again I feel it radiate throughout my body. Lifting my lemonade to my lips, I drink and stare at the man across from me. Even though I have only just met him, I feel like I have known him since the beginning of time. Never have I had a connection to someone like I do with Nate, and we seem to know things about each other that we shouldn’t, considering we only met today.
* * *
We fall into easy conversation and before we know it, the sun is starting to set. “I guess I better go find my friends.” I pause. “Do you want to come with me?”
* * *
“I’d love to, Bailey, but I need to meet up with my friend, Archie. He’s probably wondering where I am. And I guess your friends are too.”
* * *
“Yeah, I understand.” I deflate at his reply, my shoulders sag.
* * *
“Bai, I would love to meet up with you again. Maybe we can meet back here in a few hours? Say when Credence comes on?”
* * *
Immediately I smile. “I’d really like that, Nate.” Standing up, I walk around the table and sit down on Nate’s knee. I drape my arms over his shoulders, lower my lips to his, and I kiss him. Never have I been so bold before, but Nate brings out a side of me that I like. He wraps his arms around my waist and deepens our kiss.
* * *
Everything around me fades away. I just focus on Nate and this kiss. He brazenly slides his hand up under my shirt and squeezes my boob. Normally I’d smack the hand away, but not this time. I run my fingers up into his hair and I gently tug on the strands. We both lose ourselves in the kiss. I hold him tighter to me, my breasts squishing into his chest. His hand is now squashed between us, but he somehow manages to pinch my nipple, and this sends shockwaves straight between my legs. I clench my thighs together and moan into his mouth.
* * *
Pulling back, I rest my forehead against his. “Nate, we need to stop this before I straddle your legs and do something that should not be done in public.”
* * *
“Reluctantly, I agree, but I would like to try that scenario out at a later date.” He winks at me as I hop off his lap and we both stand up. We stare at one another as Nate reaches for my hands. He laces our fingers together and we face each other, holding hands; my cheeks are flushed, and once again my heart is racing like a racehorse. “But I will say, that was the best freakin’ kiss of my life. Bailey, I—”