Testing the waters

It was just past 6pm, he looked himself in the full-size mirror. Maybe a little too formal, spotted satin bow tie, sends the message trying too hard, this was after all only the first date. With the speed of lightning, he snatched it off his neck. Linen sand color pants, rolled to the ankles, a calming blue shirt, breathable, casual, formal. 6.15pm, he needed to get a move on, being late would be a bad look.

A green floral summer dress, the little lilies worked nicely, a cute touch, flirty and inviting. In her eyes she had a luminescent green eye shadow, tasteful, not over-used. She added her lipstick, a decadent rouge. She tapped her tan heels, inquisitive of her reflection. She twirled around, her dress flowing and spinning like a wheel. She grabbed her phone that had just come a light, her carriage awaited. She clutched her bag, doing a quick inventory check, then flying out the door.

He arrived at the spot, the summer sun still on display. He collected his basket and thanked the driver as he shut the door. He checked his phone, 6.45pm, he was just a little early.

- “Hey just arrived, meet by the fountain.” he typed into his phone.

A text came back almost immediately. ‘5 mins away, see you there 😊”

He walked to the fountain and waited, not long was his wait as shortly after there she was, shining in the sun’s glory, it looked as if time was moving in slow motion, every step she took that drew her closer to him, looked like that of a model on a cat walk. Be it she was far more beautiful than any model he had ever seen. He was transfixed, all the way until she finally stood before him.

“Hey Daren, nice to see you,” she smiled at him as she went for an embrace and peck.

“Hey Ashlee, good to see you,” he awkwardly hugged her, and pulled back before the peck, then realized it, then pulled his face closer in a haste, resulting in the collision of two foreheads.

“Ouhh..” they both let out. They looked at each other for a second, then broke out in laughter.

“Well, let me take you to the spot I was talking about,” Darren picked up the basket and off they went.

They walked past the open beach towards the rock face, in her heels, tracking up and down the undulating rocks was an almost ankle breaking task. Darren looked back and caught her hand just before she had a tumble. Skin contact, he blushed a little, she smiled a most dazzling thankful smile.

“My hero,” she sweetly said.

“Oh, don’t worry,” said he as he quickly retracted his hand, the red in his cheeks still flashing.

They made it to the spot. Encased by the rocks, a little slice of beach, uninhabited by a soul aside from the seagulls that would swoop in and out.

“Wow, it’s like we get our own private beach,” said Ashlee looking over the closed-up beach. The sun was steady setting, the sky a blazing orange, the ocean twinkling.

“Yeah, it’s nice here, I come here when I want to be alone and admire nature.”

“Definitely admirable,” she let out a cutesy smile.

Darren began to empty out the contents of the basket. First, he pulled out a picnic rug, he opened it up in the air with a swoosh, and laid it down. Ashlee stood by watching attentively. He took out some strawberry’s, chocolate, and pastries. Before long the rug was covered in food.

“Looks amazing,” she said, taking a seat in the sand, her beautiful sun kissed legs captivating the young man.

“Glad you enjoy it,” he said meekly.

They began to talk and enjoy the little finger foods. General topics, passions, fears and everything in between. As it got dark, Darren had had the forethought of bringing some solar garden lamps, he placed a few around them and as they came on, immediately a romantic air was created.

“You know, I’ve always kind of liked you,” said Ashlee as she bit into a piece of cheese nonchalantly.

Darren eyes sparkled like the stars above. “Oh really?”

“Yeah, just didn’t have the heart to tell you.”

This was like receiving news that you won the lottery. “I, I have always liked you too, since the first time I saw you, but I was to chicken to do anything about it.” He lowered his head and force feed a strawberry into his mouth, swallowing almost without chewing.

“Aren’t we both hopeless,” she laughed.

Darren was glad, this was not a case of unrequited love, this revelation called for a drink, something subtle and romantic, he had just the perfect thing. From inside the basket, he uprooted a bottle of wine and put in on display for Ashlee’s approval.

“Oh Merlot, you know a girl can’t say no to a wine,” she winked at him.

He then took out two flute wine glasses, cracked the lid, and filled both glasses. He handed her over one.

“Cheers,” she said with exuberance.

“To us growing some balls,” said he as he lifted his glass and looked into her eyes that looked like pools of honey.”

“Let’s do that thing they do in movies where they interlace arms,” she proposed.

So, they did, in awkward fashion, so awkward in fact, that when Darren tried to wrap his arm around hers, he spilled the wine right over her dress.

“Oh, shit, my bad,” he jumped up and started to rub on her chest, stopping right after realizing where his hands were pushing against.

“Oh, now I’m going to have to clean myself up,” she gave what appeared to be a mock disappointed look.

“Use this cloth to dry yourself a bit,” he tried to be of some use.

“No, that’s fine, I think I have a better idea.” She got up, and to his surprise took off her dress, she stood there in her underwear, giving him a good look at her body. Then without notice she began to walk towards the water, removing the remaining piece of underwear that kept her parts covered. She looked back and waved him down.

This was an unexpected surprise, one he was over the moon about, even better, under the moonlight, her generous curves looked even more tantalizing. Without a thought he took all his clothes off in a haste, kicked off his loafers, almost tripping in the process, and raced towards the waters, where the nude body awaited him. “Thanks Merlot,” he smirked.