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We sat together on the edge of the bluff, our bodies woven together, basking in the afterglow. Ronan nestled back against my chest with his head against my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around him, hooking a thumb in a belt loop.
For several minutes, we stayed like that in silence, content to just "be" together. I listened to the lapping of the waves on the rocks below us and the rustling of the wind in the tree leaves.
Ronan broke the quiet. "You know, this reminds me of the first time I ever tried to kiss a guy and how far I've come."
I raised an eyebrow, and lightly kissed his cheek. "Yeah, what do you mean by try? Did you fail?"
He laughed. "I did. It was back in college during my sophomore year. I had a huge crush on this guy, Mick, in my chem lab. I spent weeks trying to work up the nerve to make a move. Finally, I had no choice when my roommate threatened to tell Mick about my feelings if I didn't do something about it."
I smiled as I thought about a younger Ronan full of nervous energy, biting his lip every time he got close to his lab partner. "So, what happened?"
"Well, you know, the best laid plans and all that. One late night, we were studying in the library, and I decided it was time to go for it. After a little small talk about bad food service burgers, I leaned in to lay one on him, and…" Ronan shook his head and blushed slightly. "I missed."
"Missed? How'd you do that?"
He laughed. "I was so incredibly nervous that my aim was completely off. I ended up kissing his ear, and I nearly knocked his glasses off. It was horrifying."
I couldn't stop myself from chuckling. It was a story that was too adorable for words. "Oh man," I squeezed him tight. "I hope this story has a happy ending."
"Well, not with him. He even gave me a lecture on how he wasn't into guys."
"Yikes, kind of rude?"
Ronan shrugged. "I suppose my unasked for kiss wasn't the kindest thing in the world either. But you know what? It didn't stop me from trying again with a better target in a better situation."
"How did round two go?"
Ronan twisted his body around to face me. He reached out to touch my cheek. "Well, I'll just say that compared to you, they were all frogs."
I blinked. "Frogs? What do you mean?"
He grinned and brushed his thumb over my lower lip. "Yeah, like in the fairy tale. The princess has to kiss a whole bunch of frogs before she finally finds the one that turns into her Prince Charming. Here's hoping I'm finally past the kissing frogs part."
Chapter seven
Ronan
My eyes flickered open to see the first rays of daylight creeping across my hotel room bed. The clock on the nightstand read 5:17 a.m., and my mind was already kicking into high gear, processing the previous day's exploration of Whispering Bluffs. I'd spent a night of fitful sleep, unable to fully put thoughts about Great-Uncle Ian's mystery and my relationship with Tyler to bed. Every time I was about to nod off, a memory came flooding back.
I sat up in bed with the crisp white sheets gathered in my lap. It was going to be another day of intrepid exploration, far removed from the world of boardrooms and high tech problem-solving. Every time we uncovered an additional clue to Great-Uncle Ian's legacy, I felt like a kid again.
Before I could climb out of bed, I heard a gentle knock at the door. I glanced at the clock again and wondered why someone would interrupt me at such an early hour. The lack of sirens or smoke seemed to rule out a fire in the hotel.
I checked for messages on my cell phone and found nothing there. Pulling a T-shirt over my head, I padded across the carpet to the door. Did I sleep-order room service again? I'd once done that on a work trip to Seattle. I looked through the peephole to see Tyler standing there.
Caught in a horrid ensemble of plaid pajama pants and a worn "Sonoma – Wine Country" T-shirt, I opened the door. Tyler grinned from ear to ear. He was ready for the day, wearing khaki shorts and the words "Blue Harbor Beacons" stretched tight across his chest. I had a nearly overwhelming urge to pull him into the room, kick the door closed, and push the boundaries of our relationship on the room's king-sized bed.
A torrent of images flashed through my mind—sheets tangled around our legs, bare skin pressed together, erotic whispers that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. I thought about exploring every inch of Tyler's body with my fingertips and tongue. We'd both give in to the flames of passion burning between us, ignoring the world around us until we were ready to stumble out of the room, looking for something to eat and drink.
I sighed as my practical side immediately took over. I knew we shouldn't rush. Our connection held too much promise to ruin it with one massive flurry of sexual abandon.
We needed to nurture our relationship and let it grow like a damned houseplant in a pot. I also needed to treat it better than the hapless succulents I kept buying, only to let them wither on a forgotten shelf in my apartment. Patience was never one of my strongest virtues, but as I looked at Tyler's handsome face, I knew the long-term benefits were worth it.
"Good morning." My voice was still husky from sleep. "I wasn't expecting you so early. Is everything okay?"
"Oh. man, Ronan, I couldn't wait to get started. This big mystery and the hint of adventure plus… and spending time with you is the massive side benefit. The search was all I could think about, and I couldn't imagine watching inane morning shows on TV for three hours while I knew I wanted to be here."
His excitement about the day was so infectious that I forgot about my absurd appearance. "I know what you mean. Felt a lot the same way. C'mere." I gestured for him to join me.
