Chapter 23: In which she has the time of her life.
"How often have you gone sightseeing?" Nate asked me as he parked his car in Central Avenue.
"Never," I answered truthfully. "I moved here to get a job, failed five times before I got to meet you and since then it's been work, work, work!"
"Pity," he pouted those sensuous lips of his, making me want to bite them. The temptation was so bad that I almost missed what he was saying. "...failed five interviews?"
"Yeah...they wanted experienced candidates with real college degrees." I guessed that was what he had asked.
And I guessed right! "Oh well! Their loss, my gain." He winked at me and got out of the car and came to my side.
"What are we doing here?" I asked as he helped me out.
"Having fun, of course!" He pulled me away from the car and set the locked it.
"But where are we-WOW!"
"I told you we're gonna have fun." Nate whispered in my ear as I stared ahead, spellbound.
I had often heard from people at the office and from Nikki that the fair at Bellevue was really awesome, but this is the first time I've ever seen it in all its glory. There were hundreds of people here, from tourists to regulars, kids to people over 100, from the looks of it. But the main attractions were the stalls set up all over the ground in a semi circle, with a huge fountain right at the center.
The stalls consisted of all homemade products, as far as I've heard. Fruits, vegetables, flowers, all fresh and bright enough to make my mouth water even after breakfast. But that wasn't all, several people also sold homemade pottery and clothes, hand-woven blankets, shawls, carpets, even curtain and bedcovers! Their colours varying from bright and trendy to dark and elegant. The stitch work was rumored to be exquisite! I've never seen such beautiful craftsmanship before. Then there were, of course, the food stalls, from Italian to Chinese to Indian to Mexican, their smell enough to tell me that those, are something that I must have. Apart from those, there were magicians whose performance brought out a roar of squeals from the young ones; painters who made portraits of couples and sometimes families. And of course, the clowns and performers that flocked around the central fountain, which I saw was called, "True Wishers Fortune."
Nate and I came to a stop right in front of the fountain and I finally had a clear view of the intricate details of the carved white stone. The outer perimeter was a circle of what looked to be about 15 meters in diameter. At the center of the fountain was the statute of two little children, of about 5-6years of age, kneeling down, their arms folded and head bowed in prayer, their innocent faces peaceful, while standing on the North, South, East and West directions were four Angels, their wings positioned for flight, each with a jug held with both hands, pouring water on the body of the two children.
"Why is it called the True Wishers Fortune?" I asked Nate as he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me closer to his side.
"I don't know for sure but there's this saying that this fountain doesn't just grant every Tom, Dick and Harry, whatever they wish for, but it only grants the wishes of those who wish truly from the heart." Nate explained and then pointed to the water in the fountain. "See those coins that are floating on the water? Those are the ones who's wishes will never come true, but you see the ones at the bottom, they are fewer in number but those are the wishes that will or already have come true. That's why they are never removed from the bottom, even during cleaning."
"Really? And you believe that?" I asked incredulously. "If that's true then this place should be flooded by coins by now! And how are the coins floating anyway? According to science, every one of them should be at the bottom."
"Hey, I didn't say I invented this whole theory, it's a local saying and not many people know about it and several of them don't believe in it either." He told me. "As for the coins, they sell special ones here. My theory is that they are made of different materials. Since they are all the same colour, it’s pure luck what material we get. And since we're already here..."
He went and bought two coins from a counter and came back before handing one coin to me while he took the other. "Okay.” I took the coin from him, feeling the weight of it on my palm. “No harm in trying I guess. But you go first."
"Alright then!" Nate held the coin between his forefinger and thumb and brought it near his lips. Then he closed his eyes and prayed. After a minute, he kissed the coin and threw it into the water without opening his eyes.
The coin made a dull thumb as it hit the water, swished around a bit....and then stayed afloat.
"Awww, really?" he pouted as I showed him where the coin landed. "I guess it wasn't heartfelt enough. Anyways, you want coffee?"
"My poor baby. Don't be upset, you can always try another time." But when his expression remained gloomy, I simply ordered him to get me a masala tea instead.
Now it was my turn.
I looked at the position of Nate's coin and sighed. I mimicked his movements and brought the coin up to my lips and said in my mind.
I don't know which God this fountain belongs to, but if anyone is listening, please make whatever Nathan wished for, come true. I want nothing for myself but for this.
Then kissed the coin and threw, at what I guessed was the direction Nate's coin was at. I opened my eyes as I heard that dull noise, but this time when I looked at the place, I saw something weird happen.
My coin had landed far enough away from Nate's coin so that even the ripples wouldn't touch his coin, but as soon as the water settled down after the ripples, both mine and Nate's coin sank to the bottom as if pulled by some invisible force.
Too bad I didn't get much time to ponder since Nate came back with my tea and we were off to enjoying the rest of the day at the fair. Was it even our coin that sank or someone else’s? I guess it could’ve been since there were so many. I must be mistaken.
*
*
"So why are we going to this town anyway?" Nate asked as he drove according to my instructions.
"It's a special place," I said, my head half out the passenger side window as I felt the breeze in my hair.
"Looks like we just reached your special....a graveyard?" He asked me, to make sure we're on the right place.
"Yup," I got out as soon as he shut off the engine and went to the driver's side to drag him out. "Come on, there's someone I'd like you to meet!"
"Role reverse," he said smugly, as he locked the car and followed me. "I like it."
The iron gates were still open, unlike the last time I was here, thankfully. Otherwise, climbing that gate in such a short dress, that too in front of Nate, would've been a tiny tad bit awkward. And before I knew it, we were standing in front of my mother's grave.
"Samantha Tresscot. Is she...your mother?" Nate asked, looking up from mom's headstone and back at me.
"Yup! So don't worry about the messy meeting-her-parents day." I joked.
"I'm sorry-"
"Hey..." I held one of Nate's hand with both of mine and looked at mom's grave stone. "I'm okay. It's been more than 15 years now."
"Doesn’t make it any less painful.” I knew he was talking about his own family when he said that.
“And time will make it better slowly,” I reassured him. "But what matters is that I'm introducing you to her right now. So, Nathan Synclair, meet my mom, Samantha Tresscot. And you don't have to wonder too much on how she looked, just picture me in my late 30's. And mom, meet my boyfriend. You remember the one I used to complain to you about in high school? One of my bullies? Time sure changes everything, huh?"
"Yeah, I need to apologize for that," Nate didn't think my talking to a grave was weird, but now he was doing the same. "I'm sorry ma'am, I promise I'll never do that again. In fact, I plan to stick around for a while, so be prepared, 'cause in a few years you'll be wishing you could send me away."
My heart skipped a beat.
Few years? I didn't hear anything wrong did I? Nathan Synclair just told my mother that he'll be with me for years! Oh God, please let it be true!
I hadn't realized I was crying until Nate wiped away the tear with his thumb. His smile gentle but his eyes fierce. Nate could be ruthless, he can be intimidating even, but he was never a liar. And right now, in his eyes, I saw nothing but the truth.
It was only a few hours, but it felt like forever when his lips finally touched mine. Gentle at first, but soon enough, we couldn't get more of each other.
"You know a motel or something around here? Because as happy as I am that you introduced me to your mother, I can't handle the two hour ride back home. " Nate said as we parted for breath.
I nodded my head. "Come on, I'll take you."
*
*
We reached our destination within five minutes. Nathan parked and locked the car while I took out the keys from its hidden position and unlocked the door, stepped inside and turned the lights on. The smell inside was a bit dusty but otherwise, overly familiar.
But I didn't have time to feel nostalgic because Nate was right behind me, locking the front door and removing his shirt to throw it somewhere in the room, which both of us didn't care about.
His lips met mine an instant later, tongue parting its way into my mouth to tangle with mine, this time with unhidden passion. His hands came to rest on my sides as I cupped his face with both of mine.
He pushed me back roughly and my back hit the door. He tried to pull back, probably to see if I'm okay, and since I was beyond fine, I pulled him back to me with my arms around his shoulders. His hands travelled down my sides and went under my dress as he massaged my thighs. I moaned into his mouth as I felt his hands travel close to my aching core but then he removed his hands again, making me groan and bite his lower lip. He pulled away slightly to my protest, only to tug my dress up and over my head and throw it somewhere in the room. I took this opportunity to unlock and open the door at my back and pull him inside with me.
The room was dark with its curtains drawn, the only lights coming from the living room, but I knew that we were inside my old bedroom and neither did I get a chance to turn on the lights. I was too engrossed in eying up Nate's perfectly shaped body. His pale skin, toned abs, muscular physique and that soft skin that I wanted to rake my nails through. Nate took good care of himself. And just like me, Nate was checking me out too.
It took me a second to realize that I was wearing the sexy black lace lingerie that Nikki had forced me to buy a few days ago. I had been blushing like crazy then, but now I felt oddly confident, brave even. This was Nate, the person I liked...no loved. Yes, I love him. I'm in love with Nate, had been since high school. And I know that no matter what, I can trust him.
He strode towards me then, making me take a step backwards with just his presence. But I hadn't realized that the bed was this close, so I tripped and fell back on the bed, Nate climbing on top of me after he'd discarded his pants. Both of us were now down to just our underwear.
I wasn't shy until now but, Nate's erection pressing against my stomach made me blush. I’ve been with a couple men before; when I was dating in college, but this wasn’t just anyone…this was Nathan. Something about being with him made me feel vulnerable.
"You have no idea how long I've waited for you. To hold you. Touch you. I want you so bad I'm not sure I can hold myself back. So you're the one who has to tell me, Savannah. Just one word and I'll stop," the vulnerability in his voice was my undoing. Knowing that I wasn't the only one insecure, scared...it helped.
"I will," I caress his face with my hands as he braced himself above me with his hands on either side of my face.
Nate closed his eyes for a second and then kissed my forehead, then he went to my throat and showered me with more wet kisses, biting down on my earlobes to draw a moan from me and continued to do so once he found out that my earlobes were sensitive. Meanwhile, he molded my breasts with both of his hands, tugging my nipples until they were stiff and aching for more attention. He removed my bra then and put my nipple into his mouth. My back arched off the bed at the sensation. Every part of my body felt supercharged. Heat pouring down to the apex of my thighs.
Nate swirled his tongue around my nipple and then bit them lightly, making my mind go completely blank. He moved to continue his way of pleasuring with my other nipple and then kissed down my stomach while his hands took the place of his mouth.
He looked at me once, before he went any further than my navel, continued to kiss further down only after an eager nod from me. Soon enough, his lips were on my core as he kissed me there a few times and then his hands moved down my body in a slow, sensual caress and moved down to tug my panties down to my knees and parted my legs wide open, then he parted my lips and licked at my womanhood.
"Do-don't!" My voice was a scream. I was beyond embarrassed. This was the first time I was ever experiencing something like this with a lover. I had never felt this vulnerable, this open in my whole life. But at the same time, I didn't want him to stop, wanting to know, to feel what he would do next. But I felt too embarrassed to tell him to continue. Will he think I’m too horny or too needy if I did?
"Don't be embarrassed, you're beautiful," Nate's throaty groan gave me some confidence that I wasn't the only one affected by the other. "Tell me to stop if you don't want to."
But even as he said that, he still held me parted and open with both hands, the cool air in contact with my most sensitive and intimate skin. Making me feel that he was watching me so intimately, in the way lovers do and in I way I knew I would let no one but him see me. "Don't stop!" I gritted out, swallowing my embarrassment, because this was Nate.
As if he was waiting for my command, his lips touched my most intimate flesh an instant later. His tongue replaced his lips and soon I was drowning in sensations beyond anything I've ever felt before. It made me feel like clawing my brains out to stop feeling this and let this continue on forever at the same time. Heat continued to pool between my legs and I was very sure I was dripping wet by now, a certain kind of pressure swimming in my stomach, getting bigger and better by the second. When I felt him sucking the bundle of nerves at the tip of my entrance, the feeling exploded and I came in a rush, screaming Nate's name.
The feeling continue on and on, making me feel like I was floating on the clouds and then it drained away a bit leaving me tired and worn out. Oh god! This was the best orgasm I had ever had! But when I opened my eyes, Nate's handsome face was the first thing I saw above me, his erection rubbing on my curls the first thing I felt. And just like that, I was wet and ready for him again.
I don't know when he removed the last of our clothing, but we were both naked and ready for each other. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and my legs around his hips to pull us together until I felt the blunt head of his erection rubbing against my entrance.
His lips met mine again at the same time as he pushed inside me in one single thrust. He caught my scream of pleasure in his mouth and then I felt full to the brim as he buried to the hilt inside me. We fit perfectly like we were made for each other. His erection big enough to stretch me a bit, but nothing I couldn't handle. It made me feel complete, full.
He started to move out much to my protest, only to slam back in and repeat the process over and over. Finding a rhythm. He started out slow but soon enough his pace increased and I was thrusting my hips in tune with his.
The same kind of pleasure building in my stomach again, I clung to him just as hard as he clung to me. There was no space between us, our breaths mingled; my heart hammering against my ribcage at such a pace that I was afraid it would burst out of my chest.
The pressure built at a steady crescendo until we were both at the very peak and then I was falling, spiraling down, but this time, not alone. Nate and I came together. He threw back his head, exposing the strong, muscular column of his throat and bellowed my name at the same time that I arched my back and screamed his, the bed making noises at our continuous motion.
Nathan collapsed beside me, breathing just as heavily as I was. Our arms and legs still wrapped around the other.
Nate somehow pulled the covers over our sweat drenched, incredibly satisfied bodies and cuddled me in his arms as he laid our head on a pillow.
Satisfied with the perfect, memorable ending to a memorable day, I laid my head on his chest, over his still heavily breathing heart and let sleep overtake me.
I wasn't a 100% sure but just before I drifted off into oblivion, I felt Nate kiss my forehead and I think I heard him uttering something along the lines of:
"I love you, Savannah."