Page 80 of Small Town Swoo
“I’m always hungry. Especially for you.”
I laughed. “I’m not on the menu.”
“That’s what you think.”
By the end ofCasablanca, we’d pushed the tray tables aside and lay stretched out on the couch together, Dash behind me with an arm resting on my hip. When the credits were rolling, I flipped around to face him. “Well? Did you like it?”
“Yes,” he said. “But it surprises me that you like so many movies where the couple doesn’t end up together.”
I thought for a moment about the movies we’d watched so far.Titanic,When Harry Met Sally,Dirty Dancing,Casablanca. “Huh. You’re right. I’ve only shown you one that ends in happily ever after. That’s weird.”
“Maybe you don’t believe in happily ever after.”
I slapped his chest. “Bite your tongue! I read nothing but romance novels, and they always end in happily ever after. You know what I think it is?”
Dash’s hand was sliding up my ribcage. “What?”
“I think these movies I shared with you are romantic, but they’re not necessarilyromances.”
“What’s the difference?” He scooted down and lifted up my shirt.
“Well, a romance ends with the couple together and happy, and in the movies I showed you, the journey was more about how we’re changed as a result of love, even if that love can’t last forever.”
“Tell me more.” Reaching around my back, he unhooked my bra.
“Are you even listening?”
“Yes.” He pushed my bra up and put his mouth on my breast. “I swear.”
“Well, Rose had to learn to stand up for herself to live the life she wanted, and Jack taught her to be brave and take chances.”
“Also to spit.” He stroked my nipple with his tongue.
“Baby needed to grow up, and Johnny’s lessons weren’t just about dancing.”
“Does that mean I can make a joke about the horizontal mambo?”
“And then Rick makes Ilsa get on the plane, because he’s learned not to be selfish. He puts humanity above his own feelings. It’s about sacrifice. What we’ll do for the people we love.” I paused. “Sometimes we have to give them up. Not every love story can have a happy ending.”
“Speaking of happy endings,” Dash said, sliding the side of his index finger along the seam of my jeans.
“Dashiel Buckley!” Grabbing fistfuls of his hair, I pulled his head back. “Is sex all you can think about?”
“Yes.” He shifted on top of me. “Right now, sex is all I can think about.”
Laughing, I widened my knees so his hips were sandwiched between my thighs. “At least you’re honest.”
“This is what happens when you make me feel socomfortable just being my stripped-down self, Ari.” He shimmied down my body, undid my jeans and yanked them off, along with my panties.
I sighed. “You’re impossible.”
“I’m also ready for dessert.”
“I haveactualdessert. Want some ice cream?”
“No, thank you,” he said, lowering his mouth between my legs. “All I want is pure Sugar.”
My eyes closed as his tongue swept up my center. “I have that too.”
