“How does this meteor shower happen every single year?” Cooper asks, staring up at the darkened sky.
“This one, Perseids, is caused by Earth passing through the orbit of a comet called Swift-Tuttle, which is a giant comet that is constantly losing gas and dust particles, and that’s what we’re seeing.”
“But we don’t see the comet?” Nessie asks.
“Every hundred and thirty-three years, you can see it from Earth.”
Coop blows out a low whistle. “That’s crazy how cool dust looks in space.”
I grin. “Right?”
We watch for several minutes as meteors streak across the sky, and then I hear a sound that draws my attention to the left where a crowd is gathered at the railing. “What is that?” I ask.
A smile flashes across Tyler’s face. “Want to have a look?”
I’m already five steps forward before I nod, making him laugh.
“Sea lions!” Nessie cries. The water is dark, but the many lights hung along the pier allow us to see their dark outlines, so they’re difficult to see but not impossible.
“If you all come back this way tomorrow, make sure to stop here. You can see them so much better during the day, and there’s usually someone here who’s talking about them and sharing information. You would enjoy it,” he says, looking at me with another intense gaze that feels immense and heavy. Our relationship is so new and yet feels old at the same time. I used to avoid the fact I knew so much about him, and now I wish to know it all.
“Come on. We have to ride that carousel,” Nessie says, turning to retrace our steps.
I grin as Cooper follows with an objection that Nessie ignores.
“Hang on,” Ty says, catching my hand. He digs in his pocket for his phone.
“What are you doing?”
His fingers release mine, and he quickly types something out in an email. “Canceling my meetings for tomorrow.”
“Can you do that?”
He slides his phone back into his pocket. “I just did.”
“Are you sure?” I hate that my hopes feel so inflated and that this seems so momentous.
“I want to see San Francisco with you. I want to show you the bridge and take you out for ice cream.”
I feel a bit guilty for feeling so excited by this. After all, Cooper and Nessie have been troopers, willing to go to so many different museums and tourist sites with me, but the idea of seeing San Francisco with Tyler makes my heart feel like it’s in my throat.
“This hotel has no problems, and half the questions and concerns are going to be addressed as construction begins, so it’s mostly a moot point. We can go see the bridge and Lombard Street, and the Coit Tower, and Chinatown…”
I kiss him, silencing the plans he lists that have my chest feeling light with excitement. His lips are soft and gentle, frustrating me because I feel like every second I’m around him, I lose a little more of my composure and control, and right now, he feels like the definition of control. I don’t care about the crowds or that Nessie and Cooper are nearby as I move closer to him, feeling too much air, too much space, too much composure, and far too much desire culminating like a black hole making it impossible for me to escape any of it. I close the space and kiss him deeper, my hands tightening around his neck.
Tyler growls into my mouth as I trace his tongue with mine, and dig my hands into his hair as I press my breasts against his chest. The more of him I feel, the more desperate I become.
He matches me swipe for swipe, nip for nip, one hand buried in my hair at the back of my neck, and the other pulling me closer as I feel his control begin to break. He uses the last thread of strength to pull away, his forehead pressed against mine as his chest heaves while he maintains his close hold on me.
“Carousel and then hotel,” I tell him.
He kisses me and then nods.
I kiss him a final time and take a step back, wrapping my hand in his and leading him back to where Nessie and Coop are in line for the two-story carousel that is lit and playing a friendly tune.
Somehow, everything feels better. The breeze, each laugh, every breath—are all more significant as we climb onto the carousel that feels like pages out of a picture book. We spin in slow circles, looking out across the pier and the crowds of people and the bay, and with each full rotation, my gaze comes back to Tyler.
On our way back to the hotel, our steps are rushed, forcing us to stop for Nessie and Cooper so they can catch up with us on multiple occasions as our eyes continue to linger on each other, silently undressing the other one as our thoughts and desires wander, quickly becoming increasingly difficult to rein in.
The elevator ride to the suite feels like torture as I breathe him in, imagining the feel of his hands on me—in me.
“Since Ty is off tomorrow and I don’t think there’s a chance in hell Cooper is going to agree to see the bridge again, do we need to have anything but our IDs to get into the event tomorrow if we separate?” Vanessa asks, breaking my focus.
I blink through my lust and nod. “I have tickets. I don’t know if they’re required, but they sent them to me. I have them in here…” I grab the thin stack of tickets in the front pocket of my purse and pull them out as we step into the suite. As I do, a card floats to the ground. Tyler bends to grab it, his brows furrowing as he turns it over.
“Avery? Why do you have his card?”
My heart beats to a different, quicker pace at the recollection. “It’s nothing.”
He pulls his chin back, accusation darkening his eyes
