Summer of Love

I had barely gotten any sleep that night. I felt so confused with my conflicting emotions about Travis. I was certain I still had feelings for Cian, but thinking about what happened last time brought me up short. Did I want to go through that again? Did I want to put him through it again? Travis was a sweet young man with handsome good looks and a charming personality. He was shy and cute, but knew how to get my heart beating and rouse the magical butterflies in my stomach.

I was so confused. I stretched my arms above my head and blew out a sigh. I turned my head toward the window and saw that it was raining. I frowned and sat up, deciding it was high time to get ready for my day. I was glad I didn’t have to work. Today would be a personal day. I showered and dressed in simple, cozy clothes before slipping downstairs. No one was home, but there were sticky notes on the fridge.

Sara had gone with Jack to visit his parents in the neighbouring town. Hannah and Fox had gone to the lake for the weekend. Cian was working all weekend and spending time with friends. I sighed. This pretty much left me the weekend to myself. For once, I wasn’t afraid of being alone and welcomed the solitude. I cooked myself something for breakfast and sat at the table. Grabbing the remote, I flipped on the TV to watch the news. There were highlights from the concert and I couldn’t help but smile. Travis’s face appeared and I realized I had been caught on TV, standing right next to him. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him thoughtfully. I wondered what it would be like to be with him. He would be on tour a lot, so I wouldn’t get to see him much. Despite that, I had the impression he would be the most loving boyfriend. Life wouldn’t be dull with him.

I sighed and flipped off the TV, sitting in silence as I washed my dishes. My cell phone began to ring. I paused, frowning and searched for the source. I remembered I had left it upstairs in my bedroom and made a mad dash. I swan dived onto my bed and grabbed my phone without looking at the caller.

I was out of breath. “Hello?”

“Misa? It’s Travis!” Damn you, butterflies.

“Oh hi, what’s up?” I sat back, pushing my hair from my face.

“I was wondering if you wanted to get together today.” I looked outside. It was still raining.

“What would we do? It’s not exactly the nicest of days outside.”

He chuckled. “We can anything! We can go bowling, go see a movie, go walk around the mall...” he listed and I laughed. He did have a point.

I had just showered so I’m not going to lie, I didn’t want to go outside. “How about you come over and we play games and watch movies?”

“Sounds great! Come downstairs!” He sounded so excited when he hung up. I frowned. Come downstairs?

Just then I heard the knock on the door. Confused, I jumped down the stairs and opened the door to see Travis standing there with a big grin. I blinked in surprise and looked around outside. How the hell did he get here so fast. Then it hit me and I cocked my hip, lifting an eyebrow. He blushed sheepishly and ducked his head.

“You weren’t going to take no for an answer, were you?” I cracked with a smile as he blushed furiously and looked at me through his long lashes.

“Well, I would have accepted it, but I’m pretty good with persuasion.” He grinned and ruffled the raindrops from his hair, showering me. I wiped rainwater from my face and stepped aside.

I closed the door behind him and moved to the kitchen. He removed his shoes and jacket before joining me as I searched for something to drink.

“What would you like to drink? Are you hungry at all?”

He chuckled. “I’m okay, I ate before I came and a tall glass of water would be nice, thanks.”

I got him his water and handed it to him with a smile. I led the way into the living room and flopped on the couch with a sigh. He sat down right beside me, my feet touching his thigh. My heart was beating strongly in my chest at the closeness, but I maintained a smile and fought not to blush.

“So what brings you over?” I asked to start a conversation and buy me time to calm down.

He flashed me a smile and only made it worse. “The guys each had their own things to do. So, I thought I’d come by and hang out with you.” He glanced around with raised eyebrows. “Good thing I did, you seem to be alone too, today.”

I smiled and rested my head to the side against the couch. “Everyone is out doing something. Cian’s working at the new place.”

He smiled and lounged back on the couch. He glanced at me. “What would you like to start with? We have all day.”

I grinned and dove into my collection of board games. Hours passed as we played Monopoly, Life and Yahtzee. We laughed and had a great time. I provided snacks and when lunch rolled around, make my fajitas.

Travis bit into his and his eyes widened. He nodded his head while he chewed. He swallowed and smiled widely. He gestured to the wrap he held.

“Misa, this is amazing!” I laughed when he took another huge bite.

I nibbled on my own, not nearly finished by the time he moved to his second. How men can eat so fast is beyond me. He washed it down with his water and leaned back with a satisfied sigh.

“That was delicious. Have you ever thought of opening your own restaurant?” I looked up, surprised.

“Well...” I said thoughtfully. “Not a restaurant, but I have been thinking of a Bakery. You think my cooking is good? Try my baking.” I flashed a smile.

He chuckled and folded his arms. “I’ll have to get you to make a platter for us before we leave. It’ll give us something to munch on when we start touring again.”

I nodded, finishing off my fajita. “Sure, I don’t mind. I love baking.” I brushed off my hands and collected our plates.

When I returned, Travis had disappeared off to the bathroom. I took my drink and sat down on the couch with a sigh. I leaned over and rested the glass on the table and curled my feet to my chest. I had planned for today to be a me day, but having Travis around wasn’t so bad. He was welcomed company. I spaced out with my thoughts, staring out the window and didn’t realize when Travis came back. He stood just behind the couch where I sat, watching me with a warm smile.

“Misa?” His voice was soft as silk.

I continued to stare out the window, being the space cadet that I am. “Hmm?”

“What are you thinking about?” His tone gave away his curiosity and I blinked. I was immediately drawn out of my stupor and tilted my head back to look at him, smiling.

“About everything I guess. A lot has happened in the past few months.”

He nodded and rested his chin on his folded arms on the back of the couch. “I can only imagine.”

I smiled and looked around my living room. “It’s been exciting to say the least, lately that is. I never thought I’d have friends in a band.”

He chuckled, his warm breath caressing the crown of my head. Absentmindedly he toyed with locks of my hair.

“Who would have thought, eh?” I laughed quietly and sighed.

“Who would have thought.”

It was silent for a few moments and I enjoyed the sound of the rain and his light fingers dancing through my hair. I had always loved people playing with my hair. It was so soothing and instantly relaxed the tension in my body. My stress just floated away and I sighed, closing my eyes. During this time, I didn’t see Travis’s thoughtful expression or the way his gaze always locked on my lips. All I felt was his fingers in my hair. The next thing I know, the back of the couch dipped back and his warm lips were on mine.

The sensation was instantaneous. My skin began to tingle and my blood began to warm. Lights danced behind my eyelids and his lips were oh so soft. It was a gentle kiss, a careful one. When I didn’t reach up and hit him or pull away, he deepened it. Removing his hands from my hair, he cupped my face to tilt my head back farther into the couch. I hate Spiderman, but damn I loved his famous kiss. Everything on me, inside of me had come alive. My mind fogged, my body focusing on sensation and touch. A lightning strike flashed inside my body, speared and collected in the lower depths of my abdomen. I was alert enough to distinguish the sensation as desire. This was new.

The tip of his tongue traced my lips, the touch like a feather urging me to part my lips. I could smell the warm spices on his breath and instinctively reacted. The moment my lips parted slightly, he stole my breath away. The lights behind my eyes turned to fireworks and dimly I remembered only having felt like this once. With Cian when he kissed me on the bridge. But thoughts of Cian were not distinguishable now. All I could see, feel and think of was Travis. His very essence wrapped around me like a cocoon, protective, warm and inviting. I melted into it like smoke, allowed myself to be drawn in. Oh, how I wanted to feel like this again. Jordan had broke me but now I could feel the pieces being pulled together by Travis. It was all Travis.

His tongue was probing but gentle and careful. I could sense the hesitance somewhere in my clouded mind, but I could no more than just react to what I was feeling. When it comes to sensations and feelings, the body has a mind of its own. Right now, my body craved for touch and comfort. Craved for and welcomed the desire he ignited inside of me. My thoughts blurred and deliciously hazy, I caressed his tongue lightly with mine and heard his breath hitch. The sound sent shockwaves throughout my body. I was doing that to me. It was all because of me; and I felt powerful.

Reaching up, I laced my fingers into his hair and pulled him down closer. At some point throughout this, without breaking our heated kiss he had slid over the couch. His left leg was positioned on the floor to keep him balanced, the other lifted at the knee between my legs. One arm clutched the back of the couch and the other was curled under me, pulling me flush against his body. The fire was burning brightly inside of me now and all rational thought had left. I smoothed my hands over his torso from his shoulders down his back. Our breathing was heavy and ragged but I could not stop kissing him to save my life. There was something about this that felt so right and made me feel so complete; I didn’t want to stop.

Slowly though, thoughts came to mind. I’m not finished High School.

I just broke up with my boyfriend and found out he was cheating.

What about my feelings for Cian?

I was still a virgin.

He was in a band.

I wouldn’t be able to see him.

If we continued, I was definitely not going to be a virgin anymore.

At that last thought, I pulled away in surprise. Travis looked down at me, his gaze hooded. His eyes were dark with desire and his breathing was hard. They began to clear when he searched my face. He frowned as his face colored with shame. He pulled away, sitting up and turned his head away. He looked upset.

“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for and I shouldn’t have pushed myself on you like that.” His voice was oh so quiet.

My heart was racing like a stampede and it seemed my lungs couldn’t get enough oxygen. I stared at his profile and immediately felt guilty. I hadn’t stopped it. I led him on. I lowered my gaze, ashamed.

“It’s my fault,” I murmured, staring down at my folded hands. “I should have said something.”

He turned to look at me with that boyish expression. However, I no longer saw him as just a man boy. Boys don’t kiss like that.

“Misa, I like you,” he said, his voice clear as he smiled slightly. “I like you a lot and...when I looked at you sitting there with your eyes closed...well, I just couldn’t stop myself.” He reached over and took my hand in his with a hesitant smile. “I wanted to at least kiss you once.”

I stared at him, my thoughts scattered in different directions. He just confessed that he likes me...so now what do I do? The kiss reminded me of Cian, but it was so much different. It was romantic, heated and oh so gentle. He was nervous and scared. I melted right on the spot but I had to stand firm. I had to think. I needed to.

I licked my lips. “I like you too, Travis but...” He laughed sadly, cutting me off.

He lowered his head and smiled though his eyes were sad. “It’s okay, you don’t have to finish.”

He thought I was rejecting him. The thought frightened me. I didn’t want to lose Travis, but I couldn’t help my confusion.

“No, no...” I gripped his hand tightly in mine and he looked at me like a wounded puppy. Oh god. “I’m not rejecting you or saying no, Travis.”

He frowned slightly and tilted his head. Oh boy...this was harder than I thought. I just wanted to kiss him again. I avoided looking at his lips and cleared my throat.

“I just need to think, okay? I mean, your part of a band and you’re going to be on the road a lot. I just...need to sort things out, that’s all.”

He smiled then in understanding. With no words needing to be said, he pulled me gently onto his lap and wrapped me securely in his arms. He smelled of a light spicy cologne, scented with cinnamon. I buried my face into his neck and couldn’t help but inhale his scent, storing it to memory when he went away.

“I understand, it’s a lot to think about. However...” He caught my chin with his finger and tilted my face to look at him. His expression was serious, his eyes sparkling with emotion. “I will find a way to make this work, Misa. I will always make enough time for you.”

His words were so sweet that my body was in a frenzy, torn between desire and joyful sadness. I felt my eyes welling with tears because he was just that sweet. I had never been spoken to like that before and what made it worse, was I knew he meant every word. Oh my lord, I was sunk before I even had the chance to think about it. A smile managed to make a way to my lips and I nodded. His eyes smiled as he leaned down and brushed his swollen lips with mine, biting gently into the soft flesh. A noticeable tingle flashed down my spine like a circuit and I hummed against his lips. He smiled and nipped gently under my jaw before pulling away with a sigh.

“So,” he said, breaking the silence with a grin. “What movie do you want to watch?”

Wow. Cupid...you are sneaky.