Elizabeth laughed a little, once more utterly exhilarated from the ride back to her house.
She slid off Dwayne's bike with shaky legs.
"I can't imagine ever getting used to that" she told him brightly, adjusting her bag, glad that it was still attached to her and in one piece.
The way he drove!
It was wild. He was all speed, fast turns and revving engines but he was so confident in his movements and actions, she hadn't felt afraid. The ride was fast, crazy, fun but so smooth. It was obvious he knew what he was doing, he definitely knew how to handle his bike.
She knew it was a little irresponsible, but she found that she trusted him one hundred percent.
She was literally trusting him with her life, but she'd do it over and over.
"Well, that's the great thing about motorbikes - the thrill never gets old" Dwayne agreed with a smile, watching her closely.
She shook her head with another giggle.
"Thrill or terror?" she asked, eyes dancing with delight.
"Thrill" he confirmed with dancing eyes of his own.
He pushed himself off his bike and Elizabeth took a breath.
His hair was a little windswept and his jacket had shifted some, showing her just how powerful his body was...she swallowed and looked at the house in the distance, dimly illuminated against the dark night sky.
Someone was home.
She felt disappointed, oddly let down to know that someone was in the house.
Did she want to invite him in?
She blushed a little at the thought.
"You OK?" he asked.
"Yeah..yeah" she nodded, fighting back disappointment that their night was coming to an end, "was just thinking about…" about how our night has come to a most unwelcome end, "..the bike…you're right, thrill probably is the better word"
She laughed lightly and he nodded thoughtfully.
She hated that the night was ending.
She didn't want it to.
She smiled up at him, "thank you for the ride..and for dinner"
He nodded as if it was nothing and she fought back another smile at his easy kindness.
"...I had a great time"
"Me too" he told her sincerely.
He was watching her thoughtfully, a small smile resting on his face and she would have given anything to know what he was thinking about.
It was a small,obvious but secretive smile.
"Really, thank you" she said quietly, taking a small step towards him, not sure what she should say or do but wanting desperately to draw out their parting for as long as possible.
"You're more than welcome. I had a great time too, Elizabeth"
She took a small breath.
She'd had such a wonderful night, everything had been so utterly perfect.
It was almost scary how great she felt, how everything felt like it was right.
Looking up at Dwayne, the butterflies came flooding back to her stomach.
She needed to see him again.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked directly, trying to keep the hope out of her voice.
"Absolutely. Should I pick you up?"
Elizabeth grinned widely, thrilled.
He sounded so sure, so confident.
He wanted to see her again, too.
Did he want to see her just as much as she wanted to see him?
She bit her lip at the idea. It was unlikely, he was so handsome it was unreal. There was no doubt that he could have any girl in Santa Carla but for now he was choosing her. But even if she was the one crushing hard, even if there were a thousand other women around, likely biting at the chance to be with him, he was with her and it felt wonderful.
"Um…" she said quietly, thinking about his question, scratching the back of her neck gently, glancing towards the looming house as she did.
"I'll meet you down here?" he offered easily in his deep voice, with a knowing smile.
She was instantly grateful.
He just seemed to understand her.
She would never be embarrassed to be caught with Dwayne, never in a million years, but with two teasing brothers, she didn't like to display her private life.
She wanted privacy.
It was him...she realized, she wanted to keep him all for herself.
She nodded happily.
"Eight?" he asked, his eyes never leaving hers.
She took another step forward.
"Perfect" she replied quietly with another nod.
She couldn't look away.
She took another step forward as Dwayne slowly mirrored her movements, closing the gap between them.
"Perfect.." he agreed, gently running his hand across the side of her neck and up into her hairline.
Her heart soared.
Elizabeth's eye fluttered closed, utterly lost in the moment. It was so sudden, so intimate...his touch was so smooth, his fingers lightly running through her hair.
She leaned her head back a little in anticipation, heart beating wildly as his lips pressed softly against hers.
His kiss..
It was magical, it was gentle, it was romantic...it..
It wasn't enough.
"Dwayne..." she murmured lowly against his lips.
Heeding her unspoken command, he deepened the kiss ever so slightly, teasingly and her hands found their way to his chest.
She felt like she was drowning.
Deepening their kiss with an intensity she'd no idea she was capable of, she pressed herself tightly to him.
Her whole body felt alive.
All too soon, he pulled away from her, leaving one last, gentle and chaste kiss on her parted lips.
She opened her eyes, blushing lightly.
He stared down at her.
Taking a deep, shaking breath, she smiled softly before releasing his jacket. She blushed deeper, realizing she had grabbed it to pull him closer.
Her hand fell from his chest.
"I'll see you tomorrow" he promised and she nodded.
She didn't want him to go.
He moved to turn to his bike before changing his mind and giving her another kiss, a quick and delicate meeting of lips. Elizabeth couldn't help the joyful smile and small laugh that erupted from her when he pulled away for the second time.
"Tomorrow" she confirmed, unable to think of anything else to say.
She watched him drive away until the darkness enveloped him.
"Holy shit" she whispered to herself, touching her lips briefly. The butterflies in her stomach had been replaced by a low, deep need and she exhaled.
She thought she could fly.
Taking one glance at the broken streetlamp that once illuminated the road leading to the house, she gave a small, joyful giggle.
"Holy shit" she repeated, starting towards home.
Opening the front door quietly, she peeked down at the small bowl that housed everyone's keys. There were two inside. She gently placed hers among them before kicking off her shoes and padding towards the kitchen.
There was no food on the stove, in the oven or saran wrapped in the fridge so she assumed their Mom wasn't home yet. With a happy smile, she filled a glass of water and drank fast.
She couldn't stop thinking about Dwayne.
Rinsing the glass out, she switched off the light – heeding Grandpa's warning - and made her way upstairs.
"Mike?" a muffled voice called as she passed Michael and Sam's shared bathroom and she paused.
It was Sammy, but she could barely hear him over the music.
"No. It's me" she called towards the door, "just going to bed. You OK?"
She smiled and touched her lips once more as her younger brother clicked off his music player.
"What'd you say?"
From behind the door came growl and a splash.
"Ow, oouch. Nanook, quit it! Calm down!"
There was a bang and scratching against the door and she jumped.
"Cut it out, Nanook!"
"Uh, everything OK?" she asked, looking at the door, moving back a bit.
"Yeah just Nanook's spooked or something" Sam replied, voice even more muffled since she took a step back.
"Oh. OK. I was just heading to bed, anyway" she repeated, voice raised a little, "see you in the morning?"
Sam didn't reply but she heard his music start up.
She shook her head, wondering if it was her that spooked Nanook, especially after what happened the other night.
She'd have to bring it up tomorrow.
She was too happy to think about a grumpy dog right now.
It didn't take Elizabeth long to ready herself for bed and, as she slipped inside her cool sheets, her thoughts turned to Dwayne once again. The silvery moonlight was seeping through her thin curtains, and, lost in thoughts of her striking date, she let her hand dance softly over her breasts..
What a night...