"Where are we going?" she asked for the umteenth time.

She had been nervous for this. After their breakfast he had driven her home, they had exchanged numbers and agreed to go for a date a few days later. They had texted and every evening he called her and they talked. She loved that he took time for her out of his busy day.

"Still not telling you."

She could hear his smile.

"The blindfold is starting to itch." She wrinkled her nose.

His hand swatted hers away gently. "No scratching, cheating, no peeking. It's a surprise. We're nearly there."

True to his word, she felt the car stop after a few more minutes. The engine stopped. A click, a seatbelt rustled, a door opened and closed. She unbuckled her seatbelt. Moments later the passenger door opened and she felt his hands engulfing hers.

"Let me help you," he said and she felt him pull her out of the car.

He drove an SUV, so she fell forwards and stumbled into his chest. She was engulfed in his scent. His arms wrapped around her.

Her heartbeat picked up.

"Easy there," he murmured. His deep voice was right next to her ear and on instinct she turned her head quickly to it.

Too quickly.

She gasped when she felt his lips brush against hers accidentally. She pulled away, shocked.

"Sorry, I..."

"No harm done, sweetheart," he said.

She could feel his hand cradling her face, his thumb caressing her cheek, brushing over her lips.

"Let's go," he broke the spell. "Your surprise awaits."

She heard the car door close behind her and the central locking clicking in place. Then he took her by the elbow, his other hand on her waist, leading her up a curb, she assumed, and then some more steps.

The creaking of a metal door could be heard, there was an additional pair of footsteps.

"Thanks, man," he said.

"No sweat, enjoy," an unfamiliar voice said.

They walked some more and then the metal door closed behind them, shutting out the noise of the traffic.

"Just a bit further," he assured.

Her shoes softly creaked on the floor. Then he stopped. She felt the warmth of his body behind her, his fingers fiddling with the blindfold. She felt the material slide off her eyes, but she still kept them closed.

His hands slid over her shoulders and down, curling around her upper arms, pulling her back into his chest. Goosebumps broke out over her skin. She knew he saw it. She could hear his smug grin.

"Open your eyes," he whispered against her ear.

Another shiver ran down her spine. Such a tease.

She opened her eyes, immediately shielding them as she blinked in the bright light. They were surrounded by rows and rows of guitars, drum kits, saxophones, trumpets, pianos, keyboards...

"We're at the Guitar Center?" she asked incredulously.

His head rested on her shoulder, nuzzling into her. "You mentioned the other night that this was one of your dreams, to spend a night locked in here. Well, technically we're not locked in, but we have the place to ourselves for two hours."

She turned in his arms, stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek, hands on his chest. "Shannon! This is amazing! Thank you so much!"

He smiled down at her. "Come on then, let's make the most of our time here."

She beamed up at him. "Yes, let's!"

"Where to first?"

She made a beeline for the acoustic guitars. Her fingers ran over all the different bodies, feeling the wood. She picked up a black electro acoustic dreadnought and put the strap around her neck. Her fingers cradled the guitar and looked over to Shannon, who had made himself comfortable at a drum set.

An amplifier was next to him on the floor. She picked up the cable and plugged it in, turning on the amp.

"Ready?" she asked after she'd played a riff to warm up.

He smirked, twirling the drum sticks in his hands.

She took a breath and started to play.

*****

They tried out instruments and played for nearly two hours.

"Did you like your surprise?" he asked, when they turned amplifiers off and made sure everything was back where it belonged.

She turned to him and put her arms around his neck. "I loved it. Thank you so much."

His hands held her hips and he pulled her flush to his body.

"You're welcome," he murmured, starting to lean in.

She swallowed, her heart was thudding in her chest. This was actually happening. She felt his breath puff against her lips and her eyes fluttered shut.

"Hi guys, did you have a-- Oh, sorry to interrupt."

He leaned his forehead against hers, breathing in deeply, before they both turned their heads to the intruder.

"Two hours are up, man," the employee said. He had the decency to look apologetic.

Shannon took her hand and they walked to the exit. The evening air was cold. Back in the car he reached for her hand and she entwined their fingers.

"Hungry?" he asked as they were safely back on the road.

"Yes, I'm starving," she admitted.

He chuckled. "I have another little surprise," he said. "No blindfold this time."

She smiled and settled back in her seat, watching him.

"Is there something on my face?" he asked after a moment, glancing at her, before his eyes were back on the road.

"No. Just like to watch you. You're very sexy when you drive."

His eyebrow rose and he looked at her quickly. "Am I now?"

"Mhm," her free hand stroked his fingers and very gently up his forearm. "Sexy fingers, hands and arms." Her fingers stilled. "And other parts."

"Other parts?" he chuckled.

"Yes, but I'm not going to tell you now," she smirked.

"Whyever not?"

She leaned over the console to whisper in his ear: "Because it might distract you from driving and I don't want to be in an accident."

He licked his dry lips. She grinned as she sat back in her seat.

His hand squeezed hers. "Tease."

Minutes later, they pulled up in front of his house. They got out and he held out his hand for her again. He led her inside, through his open plan lounge, straight out onto the patio.

A fire was burning in the pit, fairy lights were strung up in the bushes and around the trees. Next to the fire pit was a table set for two.

"Wow, Shannon!"

"I had a lot of help," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "Do you like it? I didn't think you'd fancy a restaurant."

She hugged him. "The Guitar Center and now this? This is the best date ever. Absolutely perfect."

His arms held her close and his lips brushed against her forehead.

"Why don't you sit down, I'll just go grab the food."

"Can I help?" she offered.

"No, thank you. It's all ready, just, make yourself at home."

He disappeared in the house. She sat down at the table and looked around, taking everything in. She couldn't believe he'd gone through all this trouble for her.

He came back and placed a plate of steaming food in front of her.

"Lasagne? You made me my favourite?"

"Well, yes, I paid attention," he said and sat down opposite her.

She reached for his hand across the table and squeezed it gently. "Thank you so much. I mean it, it's perfect. The Guitar Center, the fairy lights, the firepit, the lasagne - thank you so much for listening, for caring."

He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss onto her fingertips. "Thank you, for agreeing to go on a date with me." His eyes were warm and he released her hand.

"Dig in."

"Oh I will," she said and she did. It was delicious.

After the food, he took the plates inside, refusing her help. He came back out with a cover. They sat on a lounger next to each other by the firepit, the cover over their shoulders. He had pulled her to him, her head on his chest. His fingers played with her hair, as she was curled up against him.

It was a cold night and they could see the stars. He gently squeezed her shoulder, she hummed contentedly.

"This is the best date I've ever had," she said quietly, lifting her head. "Thank you. So much."

He smiled at her, his hazel eyes shining warmly. "Anything for you, sweetheart."

She studied his handsome features for a long moment. "Anything?"

He nodded. "Anything."

"Could I...," she licked her lips, "could I kiss you?"

His gaze flickered to her lips, then back up to her eyes. "Yes."

She sat up, her fingers running over his forehead, his eyebrows, his cheekbones, along the bridge of his nose, his stubbly jaw and then his lips. Her hand moved into his hair, enjoying the silky feel of his strands.

When she looked back into his eyes, they were darker, his lips parted. She tilted her head up, her lips gently brushing against his. Tingles danced across her skin and she moved her lips against his a bit firmer, before she pulled away, looking up at him.

"Can I kiss you, too?" he whispered, his lips ghosting over hers.

She nodded her head. His hands moved into her hair, cradling her head as his lips crashed onto hers. Whilst her kiss had been shy, tentative and careful, his was needy and fervent. His tongue explored her mouth and suddenly she felt herself being lifted. She was straddling him now, his hands running up and down her back as he pressed her soft body against his solid one.

He broke the kiss to brush a strand of hair out of her face, his eyes were burning and she could feel his desire pressing up against her core.

"I've been wanting to do that since you cried on my shirt that night," he murmured.

She closed the distance between them again. He pulled her flush up against his chest. Her lips left his to kiss along his jaw and down his throat. His head fell back and his hands tightened around her hips as she sucked on a particularly sensitive spot.

His hand went in her hair and he pulled her head up, to crash his lips against hers in a heated kiss. His hips pushed up against hers and she ground down on him.

He tore his lips from hers, breathing hard. "Tell me to stop, sweetheart. I don't think I can stop if we go any further."

She looked at him, certain that her eyes mirrored the same desire as his. "I don't want you to stop."

He took a shaky breath before he claimed her lips again. His hands cupped her head, holding her in place as he kissed her deeply.

"Let's go upstairs," he murmured into her ear, kissing down her neck.

"What about the fire?"

He pulled her up from the lounger and reached for the pitcher of water on the table. He poured it onto the dying fire.

Then he grabbed her hand and led her inside. It took them quite a while to make it upstairs. He stopped them to kiss up against the wall, the kitchen counter, on the stairs, against his bedroom door. Along the way they left a trail of clothes.

Once inside his bedroom, they fell onto the bed, her on top of him. He brushed her hair out of her face, then rolled them over, nestling between her legs. They were down to their underwear now. He kissed down her neck to her breasts.

"What do you like, babe? Where do you want me to touch you, kiss you?"

Her fingers fisted in his hair as he pulled down her bra and took her puckered nipple in his hot mouth.

"There, I like that," she breathed and then gasped when she felt his teeth gently pull on her nipple.

"Do you like that?"

She nodded.

"What else?" His hands roamed over her body, grazing her ribcage and down to her stomach. He dipped his tongue in her belly button, circling it. "Do you like it when I touch you here?"

"Yes, I like that," she managed.

His kisses went lower, his fingers hooking her panties and pulling them slowly down and off her legs. He gently parted her legs, admiring her slick sex.

"So beautiful," he whispered. Then he kissed her labia.

She arched off the bed. "Please!

"Tell me where you want me to touch you, sweetheart," he ordered. "Tell me how I can pleasure you."

"My... clit, touch my clit, please."

He ran his tongue over her clit, then circled it and sucked it into his mouth. A throaty moan escaped her.

"Yes, yes, like that," she panted.

He sucked and licked, pleasuring her, then he slowly slid two fingers into her. She was so wet and hot for him, he hissed.

"Fuck, babe, so ready for me."

He continued his ministrations, trying out how much pressure she liked, how fast she liked him to move his fingers, how much he had to curl them to find her spot. Her legs started shaking within a few minutes and he could feel her convulse around his fingers as her orgasm washed over her.

He grabbed a condom, ripped the pack open and rolled it on, sliding up her body and settling between her legs.

She wrapped them around him as if on instinct. His mouth found hers in a heated kiss, as he lined himself up and started to push into her.

"Shannon," she rasped.

He knew he was big, so he eased into her inch by inch, giving her time to adjust. Perspiration formed on his forehead. With one final move he filled her completely.

"Such a good girl, taking me so well," he praised her.

She undulated her hips up into his, to show him that it was okay to move. He pulled back out and thrust back in. Slow, powerful movements that had her gasp and moan.

"Faster," she whispered.

He complied. His mouth found her nipple, sucking it into his mouth, teasing it.

"Oh god..."

His hand slipped between their bodies, finding her sensitive bud, and started to rub it with just the right pressure. He could feel her tighten around him.

"That's it, sweetheart, let go," he encouraged.

And she did. With a long throaty moan she came hard around him, her feet pressing into his bum to take him in deeper, making him curse, it felt so good.

"Shannon..." It was a husky plea.

He pounded into her a few more times, before his balls tightened and he shot his release into the condom, groaning as she fell apart underneath him again.

That had never happened before, he realised as he buried his head in the crook of her neck, both breathing raggedly as they came down from their high.

Nobody had ever been so responsive to his touches, his voice, his looks.

"Did you," he propped himself up on his elbows, searching her eyes, "did you just come again when I did?"

She nodded, running her fingers through his hair and down the side of his face. "I've never experienced that before. I just... feeling you cum inside me just set me off again. Thank you."

He raised his eyebrow. "Whatever for, sweetheart?"

"You placed my pleasure before your own. You asked me what I like and want. No one has ever done that for me. Treated me with so much respect and love."

He kissed her lovingly. "Wow, you really had horrible taste in men then," he teased.

She laughed, but hid her head in his chest, embarrassed.

"Sweetheart," he said in a serious voice and made her look at him. "I'm sorry they didn't treat you right and made you feel shit. But I am very grateful I met you. And I intend to make up for all the lost time, all the awesome sex you didn't have. I want to show you how awesome you are, how much I enjoy spending time with you, how deeply I care for you. If you'll let me."

She teared up and pulled him down for a passionate kiss. "Of course I'll let you. Oh my goodness, where have you been all my life?"

"Waiting for you," he murmured, before he kissed her again and showed her that he was a man of his word.