(Lisa's POV)
Valin still wanted to see me every day after work or spend time together when I was free, and when the weekend arrived, I was relieved to be done with my monthly visitor!
So now all I have to do is seduce him!
Valin then walked in on me scheming and said,
"Are you done packing yet? Do you need help?" he asked as he leaned against the door frame.
I frantically tucked away the lingerie I bought deep into my suitcase.
"I'm ready! It's been so long since I've gone to the coast. I'm really excited," I said while dragging my luggage behind me. He chuckled slightly,
"There's an event going on tonight, there should be food stalls, games, and fireworks... Would you like to visit that too?" he inquired, reaching his hand toward me.
I stiffened from anticipation and then noticed he was just taking my bag from me since we were now at my stairway.
Oh... I thought he was going to hold me.
"Oh... thank you, and yeah, I would love to go. It sounds fun."
I would go anywhere with him... Even if it was the most boring event in the world.
After we got in the car, he sat behind the wheel, frozen in space for a moment, then he turned to me and said,
"How are you feeling?" Valin asked suddenly.
What does he mean?! Is he merely inquiring about my health, or is he trying to figure out if it's safe to make a move on me or not?!
"I'm fine! I mean, I am great... I mean... my period is off, so I'm more than great," I replied while looking down to hide my flushed cheeks.
Valin laughed loudly, enhancing my embarrassment, then he started the car and said,
"I'm glad you're doing well." What does he mean by that?! Maybe I'm just overthinking... It's only been three days; maybe he's not even thinking about... that.
The car ride was an hour long, and he wanted to pass the time by playing twenty questions.
We played a few rounds, and at the end of his turn, he said,
"No... my word was mitochondria."
How the heck was I supposed to guess that?! Then he continued by saying,
"What's on your mind? You keep staring at me."
I didn't even notice I was staring.
"I'm sorry," I exclaimed.
It was around that time that we parked and he put his fingers under my chin, turning my face to his.
"Make it up to me by kissing me," Valin requested.
My heart pounded as I leaned in to fulfill his request, and my body got hot as he moved his tongue against mine.
He gently bit my bottom lip when he pulled away, then said,
"Okay, I forgive you," and he abruptly got out of the car by himself.
I couldn't move from my seat for a minute; my body felt too stiff, and my heart wouldn't calm down.
Once I managed to catch my breath, I got out to see a huge brown house. It had large windows, a pool in the backyard, and a lovely garden out front.
I walked inside, and he was sprawled out on the couch.
The floors were all dark hardwood, with white walls and appliances in the kitchen.
The furniture was green, including the couch he was lying on.
"Wow, we're staying here? It's nice," I commented.
He sat up and held his arms open.
"Want to test this couch out with me?"
Okay, I don't think I'm overthinking now!
"What do you mean?"
My voice revealed how flustered I was, so he gave me a smug look as he said,
"I want to hold you... Are you against cuddling with me?"
I dropped my suitcase and then flopped down onto him.
I was surprised when he really did just hold me and run his fingers through my hair for five minutes.
Even that was nerve-wracking, though.
"I'm... so glad you're here, Lisa..." Valin whispered.
"I am too... thank you for planning this trip for us."
His hand moved down onto my butt, and when I jerked up from shock, he kissed me and put his hand behind my head, leading me back down with him.
"If you keep being so cute, we'll miss the festival," he muttered.
I tried to reply but let out an odd squeal instead. Then I hid my face with my hands.
I was supposed to seduce him! Not the other way around!
"I'm being good," I managed to squeak out.
He sighed and said,
"You should change into your swimsuit... unless you don't want to get in the water."
I jumped up and rushed over to my suitcase, dragging it with me to the end of the hall until I found the bedroom.
There was only one bed, so of course we're going to sleep together... I should be used to that... but the lack of options excites me for some reason.
Once I finished changing, I walked into the living room, catching him as he was finishing up dressing himself.
He looked back at me and smiled, saying,
"That was fast."
I almost feel jealous that other people are going to get to see him like this.
"Aren't you going to wear a shirt?" I asked, while averting my eyes.
"Oh, should I?" he asked, with a genuinely confused face.
"Yes!"
After my reply, he smiled and said,
"I don't really feel like it, it's hot."
Dang it! Is he doing this to torment me?
"B-but... people might stare at you," I reasoned.
He put on a cap and then tapped his chin.
"Wouldn't more people be staring at you?"
His question made me scoff.
"There's no way!"
He laughed again and put on a light jacket as a compromise... but if he doesn't zip it up, what's the point?!
We went out to eat first.
Since we were near the coast, plenty of people were in their bathing suits, and our dining table was outside, and yet I still noticed people gawking at him.
He ordered hot tea and fruit for breakfast, while I got pancakes, eggs, and bacon... Maybe I should have eaten something lighter. We do have a long day ahead.
I hope I don't get tired too early.
After we finished eating, I took the initiative to zip up his coat.
When he gave me a puzzled look, I kissed him.
Valin refused to let the kiss remain a peck and held me close, turning it into a steamy exchange.
I practically ran out of the restaurant after it was over and waited for him in the car. The other guests and staff probably think we're freaks.
"What's going on... That came out of nowhere," he commented as soon as he got into the driver's seat. He had a huge smile on his face.
"It's nothing, don't worry about it."
Valin put his hand on my thigh.
"Your honesty is my favorite thing about you."
I gasped then and said,
"Those women were staring at you, so I zipped up your coat!"
"You're imagining things," he replied dismissively.
I pouted.
"Why are you jealous when you're the only person I'm thinking about?" he added sweetly.
My grumpiness turned into shyness.
"I'm sorry..."
"Oh, so you WERE jealous... that's cute... You should fuss over me more often," Valine commented.
I glared at him,
"This is only because you're so unaware of yourself! You have no idea how beautiful you are."
My words seemed to have an impact then, and he started the car.
I could tell by his face that he was blushing, too much to tease me at the moment.
We went to the beach next.
There weren't as many people around as I was expecting, and when I voiced that aloud, Valin explained that this section of the beach is private.
The waters were so clear, and there wasn't any trash in sight. Even the cramped, trashy beach was pretty to me, but this view was something else.
"I'm glad I'm here with you," I mumbled.
"Oh? Then take off your dress," he replied as he gazed down at me.
I covered up my breasts defensively.
"We're outside!" I scolded.
Valin laughed at my response and said,
"I just wanted to get in the water with you."
I blushed, then, realizing I had jumped to the wrong conclusion, pulled off my dress.
Why am I disappointed?
"That bikini..." he mumbled, while gazing at me silently for several seconds.
"Oh ... do you like it? I picked it out for this trip... It's your favorite color, dark green, right?"
Valin quickly embraced me, kissing me over and over with the same passion as earlier.
"Oh wait... I need to put my dress in my bag."
He didn't respond, kissing down my neck to my shoulders and then groping me, until I stepped back and stumbled into the sand.
He blinked at me in surprise, then looked flustered and remorseful.
"Oh... let me help you up... sorry."
Valin pulled me up, apologizing over and over.
He dusted off my dress and put it into my bag, along with his jacket.
I'm starting to think I didn't overreact a moment ago.
He set up a tent on the beach and put our things inside...
I'm so used to only bringing a towel, umbrella, and a cooler to the beach.
Having a place to cool off and eat snacks was pretty nice.
We got in the water and swam a bit, but when I approached him, he retreated... maybe what happened earlier was still affecting him.
I decided to let it go by splashing him and swimming around him to get in my sneak attacks and pounce.
However, he dodged ninety percent of my attempts.
I got too cold a few times, so we went inside the tent, and I wrapped up in a towel, cuddling against him until my shivers went away.
Then we'd return to the water.
We were there for a few hours when he said,
"The festival is starting soon... we should go to the house and wash up."
I agreed, then we packed up and got in the car.
When we got back, he took a shower first and came out wearing a grey cap, blue jeans, and a grey T-shirt.
At least fewer people will stare at him in that.
I changed into another sundress I brought and tied my hair up into a bun.
As I approached him, he reached out for me to take his hand and said,
"You're the one who's beautiful, Lisa."
That was a delayed response!
"Oh... thank you. I'm glad you like the dress," I muttered.
"I prefer you without the dress," Valin replied boldly.
I gasped; he was being more blunt than usual today.
I held his hand the whole way to the event.
We tried lots of unique foods, mostly fruit or fried sweets, and he brought me some shell jewelry I was eyeing.
I put them on right away, of course.
Around eight PM, he led me through a gate behind the stalls; he had to use a key to enter.
"Where are we going?"
He replied to my inquiry with,
"I rented this area so we could watch the fireworks."
At that moment, a picnic table was revealed, and the area was surrounded by wildflowers and lit up with lanterns.
"That was nice... but you already spent so much on this trip... I feel a little bad. I should do something for you too when we get back home," I remarked.
"You do more than enough by just being with me," he corrected, with a sly smile.
Valin sat down on the picnic bench and pulled me into his lap.
At that moment, the fireworks went off in the sky and in my chest.
I rested my head on his shoulder and watched the sky together.
It's so clear I'm the lucky one... so how could he say that?
When the show ended, he turned and kissed my forehead, then in a low voice said,
"I love you."
I sat up and looked him in the eyes, feeling overwhelmed by emotion.
"What did you say?" I mumbled softly.
Did I imagine that?
His eyes went down to my lips, and he leaned in, saying,
"I need you," before kissing me for maybe the hundredth time today. "I love you," he repeated as our lips parted.
I sat in stunned silence for, I don't know how long, then said,
"I love you too...Okay! We need to go home right now."
I stood up and began walking away, rattling the gate.
"What's the rush?" he asked, slowly trailing behind.
"I want you right now; we need to go. I can't take it anymore."
My confession made Valin laugh, and as he opened the gate for me, he said,
"I feel the same way."
Then he lifted me into his arms. Carrying me, and walking much faster than I was capable of, weaving through the crowd of people, straight to the car.
He said he loved me!... When he told me to wait, I had prepared to wait months.
When we got back to the beach house, he carried me into the bedroom and started taking off his clothes right away, but when he leaned down to kiss me again, I stopped him and said,
"Wait... I need to do something real quick."
I then left the room, taking my suitcase with me into the bathroom, and changed into the outfit I brought.
Even if he's already in the mood, I brought it, so I'm going to use it. When I returned to him, his face turned as red as his hair.
"You... you're going to make me lose control," he warned shakily.
I sat next to him, feeling too nervous to keep standing with such an outfit on,
"It's okay to lose control sometimes," I murmured.
He pinned me down by my shoulders and then got on top of me,
"Control isn't something I can lose on a whim... If I lose it, I don't know if I'll ever get it back... I'm not sure if you'll be able to handle it."
That sounds like a threat... a sexy, enticing threat.
"We'll just have to see then... won't we?"
His composure snapped as soon as this sentence left my lips, and I found out the hard way just how much he had been holding back all those other times we'd been together.