Chapter Three:

Sunday, February 14th, 2016

8:01 P.M.

I feel sexy. I feel ready. I don't feel sick at all.

Those words circle in my mind as I stare back at my reflection in Kayla's standing mirror. But I'm not totally sure if I mean all of them.

I brush my hair with my skinny fingers. I don't know if the "sexed-up" blowout look is for me. Will Trey think I'm trying too hard to impress him?

I scoff at myself. Of course I'm trying. I want him to want me too.

With the thought of seeing him naked and beneath me causes my eyes to darken with lust. A light pink spreads across my cheeks, and I bite my lower lip, glancing away from my image.

I give myself one more look. I trace my hips in the tight red dress. It's my favorite from Kayla's closet. The collar is high and ruffley like a turtleneck, but the back is open midway, and the skirt is tight-fitting.

This dress definitely makes me feel sexy. Sexy for Trey.

Grabbing my purse from the dresser top, I turn and leave the bedroom.

Kayla whistles from the sofa. "Damn, girl! You're rocking that dress!"

I smile. "Thanks. Do you think he'll like it?" I hold my breath for her answer.

She rolls her eyes. "Duh. Any man who wouldn't has either have a poor taste in women and/or fashion, or he's gay."

"Don't wait up."

Before I can reach the door, she calls out. "Rach, wait! Do your deed at his place." I glance back at her, and she gives me a sly grin. "I invited some company over."

What the hell? She knew I had this date locked in since Monday. Is she trying to ruin my night? I inhale my frustration, and grit through my teeth, "Okay. Enjoy."

Kayla flashes her pearly white teeth. "Thanks! You too."

**

Outside the apartment complex, a black Sedan sits against the curb. As I exit through the clear doors, the driver's side of the car opens, and Trey hops out.

I suck in a deep breath. He wanders around the vehicle before getting onto the sidewalk. He runs a hand down his gray jacket. My stomach instantly sucks in, and a pulsing beat rests in the wake.

"Wow," he whispers, his eyes following over me. "You look amazing."

His compliment enters my mind and runs around ragged. Hearing him say such pretty things to me turns me on, and causes my heart to beat incredibly fast. I want to hear more and more and more.

Trey places a hand on my lower back, leading me to the car.

**

By the time we arrive, the moon is hovering above, slightly curved to the right. The dark sky leaves a chill over me. It reminds me of how much I want this to go well. I don't want to mess this up with him.

For a few seconds, I was confused. He had pulled into the parking lot of the beach. It's only sixty degrees, and it's only going to get colder. But when he took out the blanket, picnic basket, and white candles, I became ecstatic.

He tasks me with carrying the medium-sized basket while he takes care of everything else. I slide off my heels, and leave them in the car. I've always been the type of girl who loves the feel of cool sand beneath her feet.

As soon as my bare arches touch the soft and cold sand, I feel my body slip into an almost euphoric state. But I have to admit that Trey has been helping with that too. Having his presence beside me, smelling his cologne, and sharing the same air with him makes my toes curl.

"Here," he points to a spot on the ground with a free finger. We stop moving, and after he puts the other things onto the ground, he lays out the blanket. Once the grainy floor is covered, he places everything else over it.

Trey sits down across from me. A thought to scootch over to have us side-by-side pops into my mind. I can only imagine the glimmer in my own eyes as I slide over on the quilt, putting just a sliver of space between his right thigh and my left one.

His dark eyes lift from the basket in front of him to my eyes, and then down to where I moved. For a split second, I worry that he's upset that I shifted my spot. Did he plan it perfectly in his head, and I ruined it? But when those interesting orbs shift back up, I catch the hint of a smirk beneath his thick stubble.

"You just can't get enough of me, can you?"

I nip at the corner of my lip. "Nope."

His small smirk quickly spreads into a large grin. "Good." He exhales sharply, never looking away from me. "Fuck, you are so mesmerizing."

My heart skips a beat. I laugh in a single breath, a white puff leaves in that space. "I wish you would have noticed sooner."

Something sparkles in his right iris. Was it the reflection on the stars overhead? "I did."

I swallow, hard and loud. My toes curl painfully. He's noticed me before? Since when? Oh, God, why hasn't he done anything or asked me out? Has he been watching me from the shadows?

Damn. While other girls might find that disgusting and "stalkerish", I felt even more attracted to him, which at this point seems impossible. I am at my max. And yet, he exceeds any crush I've ever had.

Who am I kidding? This fucking relationship has turned from an innocent crush into an obsession.

Before I even see it coming, I feel Trey's cool hand caress the edge of my jaw, sending my nerves off end. His touch is fucking electric. I feel like fireworks explode in my veins when his skin presses against mine.

A shiver races down my spine as his fingers and palm become acquainted with my cheek. I exhale, hearing whispers in my ears telling me to cave and give in. To let him kiss me over and over until I fall into a deep sleep like Sleeping Beauty.

Put me into a coma, Trey. Let me feel this feeling for an eternity.

A signal rings in my brain. It surprises me, and I open my eyes from my close call to giving into temptation. It reminds me to take a step back and remember how my previous impulse decisions have ruined my life.

Don't give in, Rachel. Give it a hot second, let it last. Don't scarf the moment like a wolf does with its food. Saver it.

But Trey is making it difficult for me to pull the reins back. He touches me, caresses me, leans in closer so I can inhale his delicious cologne. If he only knew...

I clear my throat, leaning my neck back to get some space without making him feel like I'm rejecting him. "S-so, it's pretty chilly out tonight, huh?"

He chuckles, the sound reverberating deep in his vocal cords. "Yeah," he whispers against my ear, blowing hot air there, warming me up and sending goosebumps over my arms. "I love it though. It feels refreshing... and we have the beach to ourselves tonight."

Glancing around the area, I notice that he's right; we're alone. I guess no one wanted to be near the water when it's this cold.

I feel his mouth move from my ear, to my jaw, and then to my neck. I hear him inhale, most likely getting a strong whiff of the jasmine perfume I sprayed before I left.

"W-where're you from?" my voice shakes as the words leave my mouth. He's severely throwing me off. It's taking a hell of a lot from me to hold back from latching onto him and never letting go.

"Seattle," he breathes, sending more warmth onto me. "Born and raised. It didn't take a lot from me to move a few cities over until I found this gem of a job here."

I swallow hard again. "That's g-good."

"Mmhh," he hums, lifting his face until he's level with me. Something else flickers in his eyes, and he scowls. "Shit!"

"What? What's wrong?"

He turns away from me, facing the basket in front of us again. Trey reaches into the pocket of his jeans, taking an object from it. He opens it, and a chill runs over me.

The flames from a lighter glows in my face. I'm not afraid of it, but rather fascinated. The way it lights up a room, and the way it can set something completely aflame and destroy it is intriguing. And all it takes is just a little bit of it to start destruction.

With a move of his hand, Trey lights the candles on the blanket.

"Sorry," he laughs, closing the lighter and putting it away. "I forgot to light the candles. I wanted tonight to be romantic."

I smile at him, offering him reassurance. "It is."

Without warning, Trey moves towards me. Before I can even have the chance to make a decision, his hot mouth is on mine, marking me, making me his.