Chapter 7

Richie laughed harder than he had in a long time. They'd slowly made their way up the boardwalk to the small carnival like area near the pier, stopping here and there along the way to look at cheesy souvenirs, buy candy or play games. They'd even ridden the Ferris wheel, giving him the opportunity to sling his arm over her shoulders and pull her close, inhale the scent of her shiny hair and talk closely in ear. He purposely whispered against her ear, letting his warm breath tickle her skin.

They talked and talked, walking hand in hand oblivious to the crowd around them.

She felt the tiredness leave her as they walked and for the first time in weeks enjoyed found herself actually enjoying something. He'd walked and laughed and even tried his hand at a few of the carnival games, all with people turning and pointing. And when he’d blown into her ear it was all she could do to not take him up on the offer his heated breath was giving.

He was amazing to her, seemingly so unaffected by the attention he inspired, and when the two giggling teenagers walked up and stuttered their way through a request for an autograph, he'd simply turned on his smile and granted them more than they'd probably ever wished for. As the girls scampered off still chattering about the hug he’d given then she smiled. "You do that so easy. Doesn't it bother you?"

He shrugged as he watched the girls ran off, pure happiness had shone in their eyes as they'd backed away. "How can it bother me? Did you see their faces?" He shook his head. "All it does is amaze me really."

She bumped his shoulder with hers and grinned. "Aww just admit too it, you are a softy, raised a gentleman, a regular un rock rockstar."

He grinned sheepishly "Yeah, my ma would have my ass if I was anything but." He led her to the cotton candy stand, ordered a stick then guided her to a bench and sat. "This stuff is the best." he pluck some fluffy pinkness between his fingers and held it to her lips.

She leaned in to take the candy from his fingers and with a wicked grin nipped the tip of his finger with her teeth. "Yeah and on the no no list for me. But then most good things to eat are. Camera adds pounds you know."

"Ah camera be damned, you're on vacation, be a little bad." He winked as her teeth gently grazed his fingertips. He held his finger to his lips and licked the stickiness off, his eyes innocent as his tongue slowly twirled around the tip. "Want some more?"

She almost stopped breathing as his voice seemed to darken when he offered her more. It sounded almost like a promise, or even a question. Grinning she nodded towards the candy. "Depends on what more you're offering there Cowboy."

He then grinned wickedly as he plucked more candy fluff "What?" He played coy, "Candy of course." He held it out to her, his attention suddenly wavering as his eyes focused on the shop across the street. He laughed a bit and shook his head.

She took the offered candy, the slightest disappointment wavering through her. He was so nice, and not half bad to look at but so far his flirting had been more friendly than anything. Noticing as his attention wavered she turned her gaze the way he was looking. "What's so interesting?"

Richie pointed as he read the sign "Psychic Advisor -- What does your future hold? Uncover the hidden secrets of your past."

She shook her head as the laughter bubbled up. "Probably some granny just trying to make a dollar. Don't think I've ever believed in that mumbo jumbo myself." She tilted her head and grinned."Might be interesting to hear though, Bet she'd tell you how you would be rich and famous one day and tell me some tall dark stranger would enter my life.. and all because we were together or she'd seen some magazine somewhere."

"We should give it a try" he laughed "Maybe she'd tell us we were dream linked or soul mates or something'"

She snagged the cone of cotton candy from him and tried to not laugh. "Right, long lost soul mates. Sounds just like us."

"Makes about as much sense as anything else the last few days," he joked. "Hey!! you gonna share that?"

She pulled a piece of the confection from the cone and lifted it. "Sure I like to share."

He opened his mouth and closed it softly around not only the proffered spun sugar but her finger as well. His tongue danced skillfully over it as he slid an arm around her delicate waist pulling her close against him. "You do huh?" he quickly forgot his preoccupation with the psychic drivel when he felt her frame pressing against him, a perfect fit for his tall body.

She felt the heat of his body, hotter than even the balmy spring evening, as he brushed against her. Lifting her head she grinned, her body angling forward as her lips brushed against his teasingly, her tongue flashing over his lips before she pulled away. "You had some candy on your lips."

He raised an eyebrow then reached to the candy and grabbed a bit, tapping it lightly on his lips he said "I think you missed some darlin'."

She arched a brow as he went for a second kiss. Maybe he was more interested than she'd thought. Leaning in again, she swiftly pressed her lips to his, her tongue flashing over his lips for the candy before pulling away. "You're a very sloppy eater."

"That’s the only thing I'm sloppy at," he said huskily as he snaked the cone out of her hand and tossed it into a nearby can. He pulled her to him and bent to taste her lips fully. No teasing in this kiss, no room to wonder. He let her know his need as his tongue pressed for entrance to her mouth. His hands lay at the small of her back pressing her hips flush against his now tightening jeans.

She almost whimpered as he pulled her closer, her lips opening with the mastery of his kiss, and when his fingers tightened against her hips she felt herself being tugged into his body, and decided she liked it.

He tore himself away from her lips reluctantly. He loomed close though and chanced a face slap. "SO I uh, I guess this is as good a time as any to ask if you'd like to see my room"

She blinked, well that was new, usually they tried everything in the book and tried to schmooze their way into her bed, or her into theirs. He was almost tentative in the asking and she could feel him tensing for a slap.

She liked him god help her, and she didn’t know why, but he'd went from pervy cute guy to someone she felt a need to have more of. A grin played about her lips as the urge to tease rose. "Well if all you wanna do is show me your room I'll have to decline."

"Ah... you wound me," he chuckled catching her meaning quickly and fighting the urge to grin widely. "I was so looking forward to showing you how big and full my room is darlin'," he purred in her ear and feathered kisses down her neck.

The shivers raced along her spine as her voice dropped slightly, going husky as she leaned in closer. "Big and full huh?"

"Uh huh, big and full with a nice, firm, bed." He punctuated each word with a kiss.

She nipped at his lower lip her hands slowly roaming from his waist to his hips. "I Like nice...firm...beds." She almost laughed at the analogies they were using, but the almost innocent words were rife with energy and meaning."So you wanna show me your big full firm bed and that’s all?"

"Hmmmm," he thought as he turned then and start to slowly guide her off toward his hotel. "I don't know, I've got a really great shower, with a nice strong, pulsing spray." He rubbed her back as they walked, his voice teasing and dark.

She snorted, "pulsing sprays can be fun. So tell me what else this big room offers ?"

"It's really hot" he nodded. "I mean it's so hot I run around naked, I advise you do the same."

She bit her lip to keep the laugh in, then started to grin. "Ice keeps you cool or so I've heard."

"Cool is boring, heat is where the fun is darlin'." He waggled his eyebrows as he swung the door to the lobby open.

She stopped then, her hand moving up to his cheek for the briefest moment as a strange kind of daring buzzed through her. "Now that all depends on what you do with the ice."

He gave an astonished laugh then swooped her up in his arms "I wanna know just what you do with ice babe," he said as he carried her across the lobby and into the open elevator. The time for teasing was over, that heat in her eyes beckoned to him, called to him in ways he’d never been called before. It was time for action.