One-on-One

MADISON

At 7 p.m. sharp, Ethan was waiting outside Madison’s driveway on his motorcycle.

She’d done as he asked and dressed comfortably in a pair of black jeans, a pastel pink tank top, a black sweater tied around her waist, and a pair of tennis shoes.

“How can you be so beautiful all the time?” Ethan asked in his smoky voice as soon as she was close enough. He wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned in for a quick kiss.

“I could ask you the same.” In his fitted white T-shirt and black jeans, his muscles were on display. “And I have to say, your Harley makes you look even better.”

“Um, thanks?” He handed a helmet to Madison before putting his own back on. “Come on. We have a nice ride ahead.”

She secured her helmet and climbed on the back of his bike. “Yeah? Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise, my love.” The Harley roared to life. “Ready?”

She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he pulled away, and soon cool evening air was brushing against her skin.

While Madison enjoyed the feeling of Ethan’s heart pounding as she pressed her cheek against his back, she couldn’t stop thinking about how she’d feel being alone with Levi for the next few days.

And how would Ethan feel?

It already felt different, being just the two of them.

It felt a little like cheating. But how could it be, when they were all in the same relationship?

She put it aside for the moment and let her fingers slide down his body until she reached the waistband of his jeans.

The anticipation of what was underneath already had her mind drifting, but fortunately, the small portion of her brain that was still working prevented her from doing something stupid, and she returned her fingers to his stomach.

After a while he turned onto a dimly lit trail surrounded by trees. He stopped the bike at the bottom of a low hill and turned the engine off, then held out a hand to help Madison dismount before he did the same.

He took both helmets and secured them to the bike.

“Enjoy the ride?” He smoothed her hair, which was tousled from the helmet.

“Very much.”

He took her hand and led her toward a small hill.

“Want to tell me what you were thinking about?” he asked.

How did he always know when she had something on her mind? And how could she refuse him anything when he asked in that low and raspy tone of his?

She tangled her fingers in his and thought about how to say what she felt.

“It’s kind of stupid,” she finally said when they moved onto a small path. The trees were getting thicker, and the light was very dim now.

“Let me decide that.”

“It’s just…” She sighed. “Is it cheating?”

“What?” He looked surprised by her question. “Why would you think that?”

“Because we’re here and Levi’s not. And then I’ll be with Levi and not with you. And I can’t really control myself around either of you.”

“That’s okay. We discussed that already. As long as we tell each other things, you can be with whichever of us you want whenever you want.”

“But won’t one of you feel left out?”

“I guess it could happen. That’s for ~us~ to deal with though.”

“But I don’t want that.”

“Then it won’t happen unless it’s necessary.”

The conversation was suddenly forgotten when the trees in front of them opened up to a hilltop with a stunning view of the southern coast of the town.

She could even see the cave where they’d kissed after the game of truth or dare. Kisses she considered their first kisses.

Her eyes landed on a romantic picnic set up under an oak tree. Fairy lights and small lanterns hung from the branches and provided plenty of light.

Ethan hugged her from behind and rested his head on her shoulder. “Do you like it?”

“I love it! How did you have time to do all this?”

“I got Sam and Ezra to help.”

“Really? Oh Ethan, that was so sweet of you.”

“Anything for you, my love.” He winked. “And your brother owed us one. Shall we?”

He drew her toward the tree, where a cozy blanket on the grass and a few pillows made the area perfectly comfortable.

“How long will you be gone for?” she asked once they’d sat down across from each other. The cool air of the evening covered her skin in goosebumps as her long hair danced softly in the breeze.

“Three days, tops. And trust me when I say I really don’t want to go.”

“I guess that’s one of the consequences of working for your best friends,” she said solemnly. “It’s harder to say no. Why isn’t Levi going with you?”

“Because he’s been the lead on a bigger case here, and one of us needs to be around if anything happens.”

“Will you miss me?”

“Too fucking much,” he whispered before crushing his lips on hers in a kiss full of love and passion.

“I’ll need to at least hear your voice every day,” she told him.

“I can do better than that,” he promised with a smirk, but before she could ask what he meant, he distracted her by taking a chilled bottle of champagne and two glasses out of an insulated picnic basket.

He poured them each a glass, and after they’d toasted, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. How even a simple kiss could make her so excited was still a mystery, but she loved it.

As Ethan’s tongue traced and savored every inch of her lips, she let out a frustrated growl into his mouth.

“What’s happening, ’Flake?” he asked, and with his brow furrowed, he was even sexier.

She shook her head in disgust. “I’m a horny teenager!”

Ethan burst into a genuine laugh.

“It’s not funny!” she insisted.

“It ~is~, my love.” He wrapped his arms around her. “And it’s very flattering too.”

He gave her a quick kiss before continuing. “And anyway, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You waited for so long your body just wants to make up for lost time.”

She decided to change the subject and sniffed the air. “What’s that smell?”

He pulled another basket to them. “That would be our dinner.”

Charcuterie, cheeses, and at least five different flavors of finger sandwiches were nestled inside the basket.

“Mmm…I’m starving.”

“Then let’s eat, my love.”

“I love you, you know?”

“Me or the food?” he teased.

“Both?” With a big smile she grabbed a piece of salami wrapped around a finger of cheese and popped it into her mouth.

They spent the next hour talking and enjoying the food and bubbly, and the view and the tranquility of the hill provided a stunning backdrop.

No one was around, and so the only things making noise were a few nocturnal creatures and the wind in the branches of the oak tree.

Ethan swallowed the last piece of bread, then licked his fingers and lips before giving her a satisfied smile.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked.

She got on all fours and crawled toward him.

And when she was resting astride his legs, she whispered:

“I’m thinking about dessert.”