Coffee Shop Romance

Chapter 26

"Hey Babe, can I buy you a drink?" I heard a voice ask.

I'd gotten to the restaurant a little early, and had decided to sit by the fountain outside. "Well I'm flattered sir, but I'm waiting for my boyfriend."

"Awe, c'mon. One drink is all I ask."

"No thank you."

"Well, what is your name then Lass?"

I smiled, "Sarah."

"Ah...well that is a right pretty name there." He sat next to me. "So...how 'bout that drink now?"

I laughed and pointed behind him, "Well see that guy right there?" Elijah had in the meantime, moved to stand behind him and he was smirking.

"Aye."

"That's my boyfriend, and I'm sure that he wouldn't like strange men talking to me before our date."

"Sarah is this wanker bothering you?" Elijah asked. He puffed out his chest and tried to appear taller than he really was. "Want me to get rid of him?"

"Well aren't you the cutest wee man I've ever seen." The other man laughed. He stood up and pinched Elijah's cheeks. "It’s about time ye get here! Are you two ready to eat or not?"

"Yes." I took his arm. "Maybe I'll have one drink with you." I winked at Elijah. "But you've got to tell me your name first."

"Aye, well m' name is Billy."

"Well Billy, you can have that drink now." The three of us walked into the restaurant were immediately shown to a quiet booth by a huge window overlooking the ocean. After a light lunch we split three types of cheesecake between us. I'll have to admit that the chocolate brownie cheesecake was my favorite. We left the restaurant and walked down to the beach. The water was beautiful; I still couldn't believe that I was back. Almost five years ago I'd first traveled to California on a holiday. I'd come to help watch the children of a friend of the family, they were originally from here and didn't think much about the touristy side of my visit. I never got the chance to step into the Pacific Ocean. I found the small rock face that I'd climbed before, and looked down at the small lagoon-is area below me. I heard Elijah come up behind me. "Last time I was here, there was a church group doing baptisms down there…"

"Really? I bet that was a pretty sight, with the sun over the water..." He kissed my temple.

The moment was perfect.

Ring Ring

'Damn technology' I thought as I dug into my purse. "Hello?"

"Sarah?" It was my mom.

"Hey! Guess what, I got an auditition for Guys and Dolls! For Sarah!"

"Honey that is wonderful!"

"So what's up? You don't usually phone my mobile."

"Well actually we are planning a little Nitz reunion, just the Joe Nitz's of course, and their family. But as a Nitz daughter you are of course supposed to be there."

"Well I wouldn't miss it for the world!?"

"Great! Well it's this weekend, but if you want a bed I'd get there a little earlier."

"What if we flew into Charleston tomorrow afternoon and then drove down?"

"That sounds good. Emily's not coming, she and Jacob are going to Myrtle Beach that weekend. So you could have the usual room."

"And Elijah?"

"Well he'd stay in there too, there are still two beds in there of course. Anyway, gotta go. Love you honey."

"Love you too." I hung up the phone and looked out over the water.

"What's up?" Elijah asked.

"My Grandfather had invited all his kids and grandkids over for a reunion type deal this weekend."

"Sounds like fun. Are you going to go?"

"Well of course, I love visiting them...are you not coming with me?"

"Do you want me to come too?"

"Of course! You've not met my family, and I think they'd like you a bit more if they met you."

"I know." He smiled, "I'll take care of the flight arrangements and transportation. You just work on that audition piece for tomorrow." He pulled me up off the rock. "Let’s go for a swim."

"In our clothes?" I laughed.

"Why not?" He grinned, "Live a little."

We laughed and jumped into the water, not giving a care to the time or to the outside world. We swam and waded around, splashing and wrestling each other without mercy. We got out and walked along the beaches. It was so deserted and quiet that I was only aware of him. We must’ve been two miles down the beach when we saw another group of rocks. “Want to go take a look?” He asked.

I laughed, “Sure!” He took my hand again and pulled me along behind him as we jogged up to the tall cliff faces. They seemed to be carved out of coral. We climbed to the top of the widest one, and laughed to discover a hidden pool down in the centre. I climbed down to investigate, always interested in the sea life. Seeing it wasn’t deep, I slipped off my sandals and stepped into it. The water was so clear and warm that I gasped, feeling the soft sand beneath my feet.

Elijah climbed down on the opposite side and watched me smiling. “You’re getting your clothes wet.” He teased.

I grinned. “All in the name of science though.” I winked. I looked around me, seeing the sun shine above, and hearing the ocean behind us. “Beautiful.” I whispered.

Elijah suddenly climbed into the pool himself and waded over to me. “Yes.” He said, and took my hands in his. “So very lovely.”

I felt my face flush. “Elijah I…”

“Shh…” He said and suddenly leaned in and captured my lips with his. It was slow at first, but he soon was moving with an almost desperate pace, which I equally matched. He dropped my hands so he could wrap his arms around me, pulling him so close. I buried my hands in his hair and returned his kiss with so much of my breath. We’d been together for several months now, but Elijah was worried that starting anything “serious” between us could harm me. Now the waiting was over it seemed. The best way to heal is to move on. My doctor had said. So I moved.

Pulling back from him I reached out and touched his chest with both hands, my fingers working at the buttons on his shirt. He raised an eyebrow, but smiled at my sudden boldness. Finally finished I eased his shirt off his shoulders as his hands went for my blouse. Soon my shirt was off, and he reached for me again, pulling me into him so hard it drove the breath from both of us. His tongue caressing my own as his mouth moved upon mine. He moved to my neck, and lower as my hands went for his trousers. I arched when his hands went under my bra, fingers teasing me and causing me to fumble with the zipper on his jeans. “There.” I said as I finally got the damned thing to move. His hands were undressing me more, and soon our flesh was together in a mix of heat from our blood and the chill from the water. His hands were everywhere! I could feel them even as they moved to new locations to smother with attention. His lips never leaving mine. We backed up into the edge of the shallow water and he picked me up by the waist and set me on the small alcove I used to climb down. I pulled him up out of the water and down to me with a smile. “Sarah…” He paused suddenly uncertain. His hands stroking me inside and out, down my sides and up my stomach to rest on my thighs.

I kissed him gently. “I’m fine.” And gasped as his fingers played at my centre, he was teasing me mercilessly.

He brought his lips down to mine in a crushing kiss, at the same time thrusting deep and full into me. We gasped in each others mouths. Months of waiting and hoping over in that one second of pleasure. I hugged him close to me, holding him tight as he moved, setting the rhythm that seemed to match the coming tide. I matched his pace and moaned in his mouth as he brought me higher and higher. I felt my insides coil around him, all thought on the friction he was causing. I took his face in my hands and kissed him hard, our tongues mimicking our bodies. His eyes…God his eyes were so dark! Indeed his eyes had taken on a dark quality; much like the ocean does before a storm. Suddenly he moaned and gasped as my orgasm peaked, and I clenched so tight around him. My eyes were clenched just as tight as my entire body went afire. I felt him tense, and suddenly go slack; his weight warming me. We lay there for the longest time, staring at each other, hardly believing we’d finally made it. I knew in that moment that I was healed…and home.