With a coffee in my hand, and my feet up on the deck's railing, I had found a moment of pure contentment. The crisp morning air was refreshing, the wooden lounge chair I sat in far more comfortable than it had any right to be.

I sipped my coffee, enjoying the ambiance that the highway below provided. With every breeze, the tell-tale scents of the vibrant trees and flowers that hung upon the mountain's edge would wash over me.

"It's a far cry from all the sand we grew used to, huh?"

I nodded once, turning to glance at Dalton. "You could say that again. If I never see any ever again it will be too soon."

"Not even for a day at the beach?" He teased.

His question stirred a memory within me, a smile forming. "Remember the nudist beach we visited when we were on leave in Germany?"

I could tell he remembered the second his face blanched, frowning in disgust as he glanced away. "Fucking hell, just as I was starting to forget about it. So much for the promise of sexy European women prancing around for us to have our pick from."

"At least Petey had himself a riot."

"That's because he didn't mind the abundance of old cock dangling about."

My bark of laughter rose above the ambiance, only further annoying Dalton as he glared towards me.

"I do remember you finding yourself a nice woman though, am I wrong?" I accused.

His eyebrows knit together, confusion appearing within his eyes as he glanced downwards in thought.

"Please tell me you aren't talking about the five-hundred pound woman that tried to rape me. Because if you are, I have half a mind to pummel you."

"She was hardly five-hundred pounds. Maybe four-fifty, if that..." I tried to rationalize, my smirk only growing further as I successfully incited my best friend.

"You're such a prick."

I held up my hands in feigned innocence, "Hey! After eight months in the desert I figured you would jump at the prospect of a lay. Even if she had a little more cushion for the pushin'."

"I don't know about you, but the thought of fucking the Michelin Man is not an appealing one."

"So picky."

He shuddered. "Even now I can feel her oily fingers going for my asshole."

I shook my head in disgust, "Lovely." I muttered. "Though it's not like you had many-"

The sound of the patio door sliding open behind me halted any more words I may have had, instead turning to see who had intruded. My gaze quickly took in Hayden as she emerged, a mug of coffee in one hand as she offered me a smile.

"Morning, Gray."

"Morning," I answered, smiling.

I appraised her as she went about closing the door behind her - my breath hitching as her beauty left my heart racing. Although dressed for comfort, outfitted in nothing more than her Redeemer University sweater and light gray leggings, she had this undoubtedly sexy appeal to her.

Perhaps it was the glimpse of her heart shaped ass as she turned away from me briefly, looking firm and toned as the muscles flexed under the thin fabric. Or maybe it was the way her high ponytail showed off her graceful neck, the alabaster skin taunting me with its softness.

Either way she looked good. Far too good.

"I see you have no issue with breaking into my house as well, eh?"

"I'm not breaking in. You gave me a key, did you not?" She smiled, striding across the deck towards me - her graceful movements making her appear as if she were floating on air.

I nodded once before I caught myself, eyes narrowing. "Wait, I never gave you a key!"

She smiled down at me sheepishly, "Well either way I have a key."

I didn't have a chance to respond as she quickly sat down in my lap, her shoulder resting against my chest as her legs dangled over the side of the arm chair.

"Comfy?" I asked, smirking.

Setting her mug down beside mine, she made a show of grabbing my arm before sliding it around her waist as she burrowed further against me. "Now I am." She sighed softly, meeting my eyes to offer me a small smile.

"Shouldn't you be in school?" I asked, not that I would tell her that I was pleasantly surprised and very much happy that she wasn't.

In the past three weeks I hadn't seen much, of any, of her. With exams and school taking up most of her time, I too had been preoccupied with all the trials and tribulations that came with both a new job and house. Our talks had been relegated to solely through text and over the phone during that time. I hadn't realized just how much I had grown to love her company until it was gone - a void in my life created after only a week of her daily presence.

She shook her head softly, "My last exam was yesterday afternoon. I am officially free until September."

"How did they go?"

With a shrug, "I think I did pretty good."

I made to move her off my lap, enjoying the narrowing of her eyes as she pulled herself tighter against me. "Sorry, I only cuddle with girls that did do pretty good."

"You're such a dick."

I grinned down at her unrepentantly, my hand stroking along her hip as she relaxed against me once more.

"How has your morning been so far?" Hayden finally asked, her hair teasing my cheek as she rested her head against my shoulder.

I shrugged. "I haven't been awake long. Was just enjoying my coffee before you showed up."

"And I have made it better, right?"

"Well... I wouldn't go that far- Ouch! Okay, you have!" I answered, scowling as she threatened to pinch me once more - fingers snapping together as if a pincer.

"That's what I like to hear!" She grinned, as if she hadn't had to coerce that confession from me.

'So much for that anti-interrogation training I had had to endure.' I thought whimsically.

We lapsed into silence, Hayden tracing circles along the back of my hand with the pad of her fingertip as I merely watched her. Occasionally I would sip from my coffee, Hayden's eyes quickly turning upwards to meet mine briefly to offer me a smile - as if I had drawn her from her thoughts.

Although I had to work this afternoon, I was more than content to enjoy the remainder of the morning with her in my lap. Her weight atop of my legs, against my chest, was comforting. Even the subtle fragrance cast off by her hair managed to lull me further into a moment of pure peace.

The world beyond my deck seemed to no longer exist. Instead the world I found myself living in was reduced to nothing more than that of Hayden and I as the seconds ticked by - each marked by the beating of my heart.

"I missed this," Hayden whispered, her voice fragile.

I hugged her tighter against me, enjoying the sigh my actions elicited. "Me too, Hayden."

She shifted slightly in my lap, her hand edging open my half-zipped sweater to reveal my upper chest to her gaze.

Through narrow slits I watched as she traced the scar that marred my chest - a frown emerging on her face.

"Does it ever hurt?"

I shook my head, "No. It feels colder sometimes though."

"Colder?"

"I dunno how to explain it. Like the underside of the pillow would feel?"

She nodded once as she went back to studying me, her fingers trailing back and forth along the scar as if she might wipe it away.

Perhaps it was the way she looked up at me - the swirling green depths of her eyes conveying both care and longing. Or perhaps it was a shift within myself I hadn't been aware of, a subconscious need that refused to be ignored any longer.

Either way, I succumbed too easily to my desires. Far too easily. The restraints of control slipped away as if unlocked shackles - the inhibitions forgotten and consigned to the past the moment the decision was made.

Hayden's eyes widened as I pressed upon her back lightly, urging her towards me even as I dipped my face downwards.

Her lips felt like that of an ocean breeze - their softness drawing me in further.

I felt her hand as she reached up to cup my cheek, her fingers stroking along my scruff as she murmured her pleasure softly.

The urge to deepen the kiss, to claim every inch of her mouth as my own was nearly overpowering. It was a struggle to temper down the lust she so easily stoked within me - threatening to fan the fires to even greater heights.

Our kiss broke suddenly as Hayden pulled back, wide eyes studying me, her expression serious. The seconds ticked by slowly, an eternity passing by as I held my breath.

"Kiss me again, Gray." She whispered softly, a shy smile emerging.

I couldn't say no to her. I couldn't imagine wanting to say no to her.

I heeded her command with far too much enthusiasm, her smile melting away as I once more claimed her lips with my own.

A small warm tongue met mine, shy and hesitant at first as arousal stormed in. I felt my erection lengthen in my sweatpants, pressing up against Hayden's ass as she squirmed in my lap - no doubt feeling the effects her drug-inducing kiss had on me.

She murmured into my mouth, her hands stroking along my shoulders as I succumbed to the desires she so easily instilled within me.

It was my turn to end the kiss, pulling back from her a handful of inches as her eyes slowly opened.

Thoughts of carrying her to my bedroom, of hearing her enchanting giggle as I tossed her on to the bed before claiming her mouth with my own once more, filled my mind. How soft would her thighs be as she cradled me between them? Would she be shy and reserved as I slowly stripped her, leaving her bare to my hungry gaze? Or would she be wild and free, like that of her personality?

I was content to learn all those answers in due time - instead focusing on our first foray into intimacy.

"About time." She huffed softly, voice serious.

I could only grin at her words as she once more rested her head against my shoulder, a sigh bubbling up from deep within her that seemed to echo across the escarpments edge.

"About time, indeed."