They sat quietly watching the fire burn. It was a sultry summer night, not even a breeze blowing. The sky was clear and full of stars – perfect weather for sleeping beside a lake in the middle of nowhere.
"What were you thinking just then, I saw you smiling?" he asked taking her hand into his own.
"Mmm, I was thinking about how many times we’ve talked about the moon.” she said, her eyes gazing intently up at the sky. "I remember you telling me that on New Year’s Eve you blew a kiss to it because you couldn’t give one to me." Now turning to look at him, her eyes meeting his, she could feel him clasp her hand a little tighter in his own, as he too remembered that time.
"We missed a lot of kisses then didn’t we?" he asked with that tender loving look in his eyes that she knows all too well. Slowly she edges closer to him on the bench, ever so softly kissing his cheek and resting her head on his shoulder.
"Why don’t we go for a walk down to the lake while this fire slowly dies out?" She lifts her head to look towards the lake. It is so calm, the light from the moon shimmering in the small ripples. Every so often she can hear a distant splash of a loon or its haunting call as it beckons to its mate.
"I think a walk is a great idea,” she answers, smiling up at him. Still with her hand tucked into his they start off down the grassy path.
"Wait here one moment, I’ve forgotten something," he said with a mischievous look. Smiling, he left to return a few minutes later with a blanket in his hand.
"Are you planning on taking a nap in the moonlight?" she teased not able to stop a blush from spreading across her cheeks.
"Hmm, I brought it to keep you warm," he replied. And with a wink and that sexy smile, he takes her hand and they continue on down the pathway.
The forest surrounding them is silent. Every so often their thoughts are interrupted by a twig in a tree cracking from a squirrel or his angry chirp resulting from the disturbance. It is a wonderfully peaceful evening, the kind you never want to end. There is that fresh summer scent hanging in the air, a mixture of wild flowers and with the water before them, she takes in a long breath and savors it. Knowing all too well how long the winters are, she felt that every moment of summer is to be thoroughly enjoyed.
Nearing the water, two loons swim past them.
"Did you know they mate for life?" she murmurs watching as they drift on down the shoreline.
"How lucky for them to find a soul mate to share their life with."
A little surprised at his romantic view, she turns to find him gazing out at the water. "That’s what I love about you, everything you say comes straight from your heart." Finally at the shoreline they stop and enjoy the extraordinary view. Across the lake they can see the outline of the Rocky Mountains, with trees as far as the eye can see.
"I wish summer lasted forever," she sighs and looks longingly out at the mountains. Spreading the blanket out on the ground, he tugs at her hand and they both stretch out on it, staring into the sky. This is heaven, she muses, laying here in the warm air, stars surrounding me and the man I love beyond reason here beside me.
"If summer lasted forever, when would we build a snowman together?" Grinning she reaches for his hand.
"Ahh yes, how could I forget the snowman?" Tracing her finger along his hand and up his arm she starts to giggle.
"I’m afraid to even ask what you're thinking."
She can hear the smile in his voice without even turning to look at him. "Oh, I was just remembering how we planned on making a snowman," she said.
"Then why are you laughing?" he asks now puzzled at what she found so humorous about that. He turns onto his side to hear her answer.
"I don’t know, it was just so cute all the silly things you say when you are falling in love with someone." Now she turns to face him. "Even building a snowman seemed romantic!" Leaning over she places a soft small kiss on the tip of his nose.
"Come a little closer and tell me about the snowman," he whispers.
"Closer like this?" she asks, moving a fraction of an inch closer, a sly grin upon her face as she waits for his reaction.
"More like this!" he says, grabbing her about the waist and pulling her to him, their bodies now pressed together on the blanket.
"Oh dear, I don't think I can concentrate on snowmen being this close," she murmurs nibbling his bottom lip.
"My point exactly!" he says catching her lips with his own and giving her a warm kiss. Her body shivers from the gentleness. It is like that first kiss all over again. It seems every time he kisses her, all thoughts disappear and she is weak to his touch. She feels his hands slide from her waist to her back as he pulls her tighter to him. His lips hungrily seeking hers now, his tongue shyly passing her lips, and slowly stroking hers.
A soft moan escapes her lips, as his hand caresses her from her back to her hips. Softly he whispers, "Aren’t you glad I brought the blanket?"
"Oh, very happy you brought the blanket," she giggles. This time it is she who pulled him to her and kissed him with her fingers running through his hair and then trailing over his shoulders. Pressing her leg between his and pushing her hips forward into him, their bodies drew closer with every breath. Playfully she bites his bottom lip with her hands now running down his back and tugging his shirt out of his shorts.
"Need a little help?" he whispers to her in a husky voice and pulls his shirt off. She can’t wait to touch his skin, to feel it as her hands run over his bare shoulders and back. Even though she has memorized every inch of him, it still thrills her as she undresses him.
