[Past] Salt Water and Sandwiches

You know if there's no one in it already, I'm not making you pay for that room, right? I'll just tell Coop I want to sleep in the big bed tonight. She had already been thinking about her small room, and if she really was going to turn over a new leaf, to be serious about all this change, to put aside the last 13 years of the only work she really knew how to do, then she wanted to make sure that it was honest, all of it. Which also meant maybe turning her under the stairs room into something more comfortable for a woman her age. A real bed, vanity, and hooks for the real dresses she was making. Maybe she could talk to Coop about changing the small storage room to under the stairs, so she could have a room with a window.

Yes, she liked that, but, We'll fit in there though, the bed is more than long enough to fit even lanky you, and the space is the perfect side for holding one another while we sleep, all snug like. The rest of the day went by in a blur.

~*~


The sun set over the water that was growing further and further in the distance was like magic for her. She had seen sunsets before, and knew how lovely they could be, but this was something different, something deeper within her soul, reaching in deep and evoking stronger emotions than she knew she could feel. She was happy for the steady sway of Bessie and the hard wall of muscle that was Colt keeping her safe and sound for the ride back -- she would have cried otherwise at the loss of that feeling. What ever magic that much water carried, it had reached into her and taken hold, and she knew she'd be begging to come back soon, oh so soon. Perhaps she'd even get back on one of the horses on her own and come down just to stare at it, to smell it in the air, to feel the water lap at her and invite her further in.

Call of the void, she thought, the same call come got over wide precipices. Primal, deeper than even she cared to admit. Something in it was calling to her to wade in and stay. On the lake, or river maybe, somewhere not quite as violent for my first time on a boat! A lazy float down the river near by, yes I like that idea. No sense in going on a big boat and sailing until we know if my stomach even can handle it. I might be fated to always just stare on with longing. She chuckled as she turned her face up and pressed a sweet kiss to the bottom of his jaw line like before, something of a habit that was starting to form. Maybe tonight they'd share a chaste kiss, a real one, no on the cheek, no along the jaw, or hand covering lips. Today had been the sort of day that would be perfectly capped by such a thing, but as she thought about the way his lips would feel, slotted against hers, she knew she wouldn't be able to stop at just one kiss, wouldn't want to stop at just kisses.

No, not yet. Tonight she would be content with just being held, to be lulled to sleep by a steady heart beat that had hers racing in anticipation of the day that would come for them. I think.. one of our next dates should be an overnight date. Not the city, or the beach, or on a boat. Let's pick a direction and ride until nearly nightfall, and then sleep under the stars. With it getting closer to winter soon, the night sky will be clearer than ever for star gazing. Maybe near a stream, so we can wade into frigid waters to clean up and then hold one another close under blankets to warm back up. We can bank a fire underground, so that it won't stop us from admiring all the stars.

That had been their first, and she liked to revisit how he had been so careful with her, letting her know his no wasn't to her, but to too soon. That he didn't not desire her, just, he wanted to build an appropriate life together first. That he wanted her for more than just a quick fuck and some half-hearted kisses. That first night had been what had set her on the idea that she could be, could have more than just what was. All toasty warm snuggled up together, I'll even bring one of my books and read to you.

@Colton Young