“Cold has some good points.” He rested his head on his hands and watched me as I cut the last piece of steak on my plate.

“Like what?”

“Laying by a fire and being snowed in together.”

“Those are the only positives. I think more of scraping my car windows, shoveling snow, frostbite, and other crappy things that go with Minnesota life.”

We stared at each other as I chewed the last morsel and finished off the champagne in the glass. The sun hovered over the ocean, the sky blazed with the most beautiful shades of red and orange.

He stood, holding out his hand. “Come on, Mia, let’s go watch the sunset.”

“I thought we were,” I said placing my hand in his, feeling the electricity that sizzled between us.

“I want to be a little more comfortable for the show. I have a blanket that’s calling our name.”

Walking hand in hand, we snuck glances at each other as we approached the blanket. Suddenly I felt shy and my stomach flipped as I sat down and he moved to sit behind me.

“Come here,” he said placing his legs on either side of me and grabbing my hips.

I closed my eyes, inhaling sharply from the feel of his fingers digging into my flesh. I shimmied my body backward until our upper bodies connected. The warmth that permeated off him felt hotter than the setting sun hanging just above the horizon.

“Lean back, Mia,” he whispered in my ear, sending a chill across my skin.

Placing my hands against his knees, I rested my head on his shoulder and stared at the sky. Peace overcame me as I sat straddled between his legs; our bodies connected, and watched the changing colors over the water. His fingers traced a path around my ear to my neck and brushed the hair off my shoulder.

“It’s so beautiful,” I said as tears formed in my eyes.

“Not as beautiful as you. Are you crying?” he asked with knitted brows.

“I don’t know,” I said, laughing and wiping at the corners.

“Do you want me to take you home?” His lips brushed against my temple as he watched me.

“No,” I said quickly.

“Then what’s wrong, Doc?” He wrapped his arm around my chest and gripped my shoulder.

“I’m going to sound crazy.”

Damn it. How could I explain the peace and happiness I felt without sounding like a total whack job?

“I rather know than sit here and wonder why I’ve made you cry,” he said, stroking my collarbone with his thumb.

I shook my head and sighed, relaxing against his body. “I’m stressed out after work and sometimes it takes me days to shake off what I’ve seen at the hospital. It’s been a long time since I felt truly at peace, but being here, in your arms and watching the sunset with the sound of the waves. I feel it – serenity that I haven’t been able to find in so long.”

“I can’t imagine the things you’ve seen.” He pulled my body closer, wrapping his arms around me, making me feel safe and secure enveloped by his warmth and muscle.

“You don’t want to, Michael. The people I’ve lost haunt me at night. I can’t remember the last time I slept without a nightmare or sleeping pills.” I placed my hand on his arm and squeezed. “So to have this brief moment where I’m reminded of the world’s beauty and feel like only the two of us exist brings tears to my eyes. You chased away the demons, if only for a little while.” I stared across the water watching the sky turn purple as the sun kissed the edge of the world.

“Stay in the here and now. Nothing else matters but the two of us, on this beach, in each other’s arms. I’m not going anywhere, are you?”

“We can’t stay like this forever,” I said turning my face toward him.

“I’ll stay as long as you need to help chase away your nightmares, Mia.” Grabbing my chin, he pulled my mouth to his.

Staring at each other, I searched his eyes. They were soft and kind and made my heart feel funny. Michael Gallo did not fit the mold of fighter bad boy; He was a romantic and made me feel like the only person that mattered in the world.

My body ignited as his lips pressed against mine. His hand glided across my shoulder until he rested his hand against my throat. My heart danced under his fingertips as he kissed me softly.

Our eyes remained open as I turned in his arms and straddled him. Our breathy moans and the lapping of the waves on shore were the only sounds, as his kiss became more demanding and I opened to him.

I never wanted to kiss someone as much as I wanted Michael to ravage my mouth and put his hands all over my body. The power of his grip on my back as I kissed him had me wanting more. Pushing him back against the blanket I sat up and stared down at him as his hands slid up my legs and caressed my hips.

As I leaned forward my hair sheltered us from the world as it cascaded around his head. “Make me forget, Michael,” I whispered.

His hand stilled, squeezing my thighs he leaned forward and nipped at my lips. I collapsed against his chest, my nipples hardening with the contact. His cock grew hard and I gasped in his mouth.

“Sorry, Doc. Some things I can’t control,” he mumbled against my lips.

His hands roamed my body as our lips and tongue stayed entwined. Fisting his hair in my hands I demanded to be kissed harder. My body ached for his touch. I wanted to be filled and feel alive as I grinded myself against him to relieve the throb I hadn’t felt in so long.

A small moan escaped his lips, as he grabbed my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh.

“Not here, Michael. Not like this,” I whispered, leaning over him.

“I wasn’t even thinking about it, Mia.” He looked in my eyes as he pulled my face closer to his. “You want to stay or do you want me to take you home?”

I wanted to stay on the beach in his arms all night, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t ready to give myself to him and I knew the longer I kissed him the more I’d want to.

“Take me home,” I whispered against his lips, still feeling his hardness against me. A lump formed in my throat as I questioned my decision.

Sitting up, he adjusted my body, breaking the contact that had almost driven us over the edge. “Just promise me that you’ll see me again.”

The lump that had formed in my throat disappeared and was replaced by warmth that flowed throughout my body. Leaning forward, I rested my forehead against his and listened to his breathing – rapid and jagged. “I’d love to, Michael. Thank you.”

“What are you thanking me for?” He asked as he backed away.

“For not pressuring me and still wanting to see me after I turned you down.”

“Mia,” he said as he grabbed my face, “If anything, it made me want to see you more. I didn’t think that was even possible. I like you a lot and we’ll do things at your pace and when you feel comfortable. I didn’t do all this just to get in your panties.”

“But you were hoping to,” I said as I smiled, my face growing flush.

“I won’t lie. I can’t wait to rip those off of you and feel your body against mine. It’s worth the wait, you’re worth the wait,” he said, holding my cheek in his hand.

I smiled, resting my hand against his chest. “Want me to take care of that with my needle?” I asked with a smirk and pointed to his crotch.

His grip on my arms grew tight. “Don’t ever and I mean ever talk about my cock and your needle again, Doc. It was funny at the bar, but right now, not as much.” He laughed, his body shaking under mine. “Come on, let’s go before you get any more crazy ideas.”

I kissed him tenderly, still laughing, as he picked me up and carried me from the beach. Michael wasn’t the cocky bastard I thought when I first met him, well not entirely.

I looked at him in a new light after our first date. There was more to the man and I wanted to know every inch of him.

MICHAEL

It had been a week since I’d seen Mia and I was at my breaking point, I needed to touch her again. We spent the time apart talking on the phone, texting, and learning a lot about each other.