Tara and Annie sit on my bed, watching me stuff some clothes into a backpack.

"He must be planning something," Annie says, tapping a finger against her chin. "A weekend getaway in the cabin is romantic."

"We barely see each other now," I say, folding one of the warm oversized sweaters I will surely wear on the beach. "Brian has been so busy we haven't been together in two weeks."

Tara gives me a broad grin. "Then don't pack any underwear."

I roll my eyes at her. "Right. Anyway, will you be okay here on your own? I hope nobody bugs you."

Annie snorts and then giggles. Tara told us about the bugs Sebastian put in her notebook, and the way she described his reaction to her absence of reaction had us doubling over with laughter.

"He'd better behave," Tara says. "By the way, will the two of you be back in time for the Halloween party on Sunday?"

"Sure," I say, zipping up the backpack. "Brian wanted to go. We'll be back on Sunday morning."

"Have fun." Tara beams at me. "And use protection."

I say goodbye to my friends and go downstairs, where Brian is already waiting for me, leaning against his bike. Dressed in all black with his hair slightly messy, he draws the eye. 

"Hey," he greets me, taking a step forward and squeezing me in a hug.

"Hey there," I say into Brian's neck. "I can't believe we're finally gonna spend some time together."

"Same, babe." Brian smiles. "Let's go."

I put on a helmet and settle behind Brian on his bike. He starts it, and we're cruising down the highway in no time.

The traffic isn't heavy yet. The journey doesn't take us long, and it's barely five in the afternoon when Brian rides into his grandparents' estate. 

I hop off the bike when Brian parks it next to the main house.

"I'll need to have a word with my grandpa first," Brian says as we stroll to the porch. He'd left his things on the bike, but there's a folder with some papers under his arm. I'm curious but decide against asking him about it for now.

"Brian!" Evelyn wraps her arms around her grandson as soon as the front door swings open. I'm the next to receive her affection. Brian's grandma doesn't hide how pleased she is with having the two of us visiting her. She invites us in, and once we're in the kitchen, Brian kisses me on the lips lightly and looks at Evelyn.

"Keep an eye on Kitten, okay? I'll go look for Pops Senior."

"He must be in the garage," Evelyn says. "Or in the woodshed."

"Gotcha." Brian winks at me and leaves.

"I'm so happy for him," Evelyn says to me, her voice almost a whisper as if she's afraid Brian will hear. "Brian's gonna be a doctor. Ben and I are so proud."

I perch on a chair at the round kitchen table. "I'm proud of him too."

"Like he is of you. He talks about you each time he calls."

A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. I relax and lean against the back of the chair, watching Evelyn make some coffee. She didn't let me help her, saying I was their guest. 

We have coffee with pie and chat until Brian is back with his grandfather almost an hour later. 

Ben hugs me tightly, and of course, he calls me Kitten, thanks to Brian's refusal to use my name in front of his grandparents.

"Will you have breakfast with us tomorrow?" Evelyn asks Brian when we're about to leave their house.

"Sure," says Brian. "But it might be brunch. We'll surely sleep in."

"Come here whenever you wake up," says Ben. "There's always food."

"Will do."

We say our goodbyes. Brian takes my hand in his as we walk toward the cabin.

"Would you like to see the beach first?" he asks me.

"Please. I missed the sea."

Brian gives me a half-smile as we stroll down the familiar path among evergreen trees. It's a warm October evening, but the temperatures will drop soon. 

"Is it beautiful here in winter?" I ask.

"Yeah." Brian hugs me to him. "I know it's still a couple of months away, but you're spending Christmas with the O'Briens this year."

"Am I?" I ask.

Brian kisses my cheek. "Hell yeah. Your parents are invited, too. Jim and his girl will be at my parents' as well, and Pops talked to Ava's dad. It'll be a noisy, fun holiday."

"I'd love to," I say, leaning into Brian. "You have to help me pick up the gifts."

"We have plenty of time for that." Brian laughs. "I just wanted to tell you because Pops and I talked about it yesterday."

The sea is calm. As soon as my feet step on the sand, I rush toward the water, dragging Brian with me. 

We stand facing the ocean. Brian hugs me to him from behind and nuzzles into my neck, pressing wet kisses to my skin.

"Let's sit?" he asks me.

Like that first time on the same beach, Brian shrugs off his leather jacket and extends it on the sand. I sit between his bent legs and let him wrap me in his arms. 

He says nothing at first, as enthralled by the soothing motion of the small waves as I am. The sky is cloudless. The sunset will undoubtedly be spectacular. 

Brian laces his fingers with mine and studies our joined hands. "Princess."

I lean against his shoulder and look up at him. "Yeah?"

Brian lowers his face to mine and kisses my lips. "There's something I want to ask you, and I'm kinda nervous."

"What is it?"

Brian's hazel eyes are warm as he looks at my face. He caresses my cheek with his fingertips and smiles when I try to kiss his palm.

"Let's move in together."

My mouth opens on its own. I stare at Brian's face, waiting for him to tell me it's a joke.

"Let's live together. I'm not kidding."

"Are you for real?"

"Hell yeah." Brian nods. "It's not a spur-of-the-moment thing. I've wanted to do it for a while, but I had to wait until I fixed our place to be able to show it to you. It wasn't a dump, but it needed tons of work. The agent managed to convince the owner to lower the price. The owner needed money fast, so I was lucky."

"Wait." I stare at Brian. "You bought it?"

Brian hugs me tighter. "I did. And yeah, I could afford it. It's small. The living room isn't, but the bedrooms are tiny. I used my savings of the last five years."

"Was it enough?"

"I'll have to work to pay for school, but yeah. It's close to campus and not far from the hospital. The area is quiet. So, what do you say?"

I'd lie if I said I didn't think about it. We barely have time to be together, and the sleepovers are few, but it's a huge step.

"It's a huge step," I say and gaze at Brian. 

"I know. But I also know I'm ready. Are you?"

I turn around and kneel on the sand as I wrap my arms around Brian. "Yeah. I am."

He hugs me, chuckling softly into my hair. "Thanks, babe. I was afraid you'd say no."

"I also miss you," I whisper. "And...oh my God, what about Tara?"

"I thought about it. I think she could move in with Bast."

I burst out laughing. Brian does, too. "Fuck, Kitten, it's a mess, isn't it?"

"They hate each other."

"You didn't like me much, either, and now you moan your bad boy's name. Funny how it works, huh?"

"It'll take us lots of effort to convince them it's a good idea." I sigh.

"Maybe. But it's the only way. Bast doesn't have lots of money. Only his dad works, and I hate to let the guy down. Hell, he's not bad. He's been a good friend to me. Maybe he and Tara have to get to know each other better. They have this childish enemy thing going on, but maybe there are sparks. It wouldn't be the first time people who can't stand each other end up falling in love."

"Love?" I snort. "We have to make sure they don't kill one another first."

"We'll talk to them on Sunday after I've shown you the apartment. It's not ready yet, but the big things are, and Grandpa will help me next week."

"So that's why you've been so busy," I say, kissing the tip of Brian's nose. 

"Busted."

Brian sits me on his lap and holds me as we watch the sunset. When it gets dark, we walk back to the cabin, holding hands.

The wooden house hasn't changed. I smile at the familiar stars in Brian's bedroom as I unpack my clothes. 

"So many memories, right?" Brian says from behind me.

His warm, slightly calloused palms slide under my sweater, and I lean against him, desperate for his touch.

My breath quickens with each caress. Brian moves his hands up the front of my body until he cups my breasts that suddenly feel heavy. His wet mouth latches onto my neck, and he sucks at my skin, never stopping the caresses. 

I unbutton my jeans and slide them down my hips. When the garment hits the floor, and I step out of it, I raise my arms and circle Brian's neck with them, moaning when his fingertips rub the peaks of my breasts.

Brian gets rid of my sweater and his shirt. I admire his defined torso for a moment and walk him to the bed.

Surprise takes over his expression when I put my palms on his chest and push him lightly. Brian's back hits the mattress. I straddle him while I pop the button of his jeans open and bare him to me. 

The sight of his naked body on the white sheets makes me clench my thighs. Brian bites his bottom lip as he watches me undress. I toss my panties and bra onto the bedside table and get a condom from the drawer.

"You came prepared, Kitten," Brian says. His voice is hoarse. A single look at his body tells me he's ready. We devour each other with our eyes—me, standing next to the bed, and him, sprawled on it.

"Always for you," I say, crawling on top of him. I straddle Brian's lap and rock my hips, rubbing myself over his erection.

The moonlight reflects off his piercing, and I'm momentarily distracted by the sight.

"Don't torture me," Brian says in a husky whisper. "Do something."

I tear the foil open and roll the condom down his length before wrapping my fingers around it and guiding Brian inside me.

"Fuck." He breathes out when he's filled me. I adjust to the feeling of fullness, taking a slow breath.

"You feel too good," I say, flattening my palms on his chest to give myself something to hold on to.

Brian thrusts his hips upward, and I sink on him roughly, clenching my eyes shut because of how deep it is.

My fingertips dig into his skin, and a sheen of sweat glistens on his forehead. 

"Fuck me, Princess," he almost begs. His head falls back when I rock my hips back and forth, and a moan falls from his lips. 

"Watch me," I tell him. 

Brian's eyes follow the movements of my hands. I touch my breasts, caressing myself while I move on top of him. It's slow and teasing at first, but Brian's hands on my thighs spur me on. I lift myself off him and lower myself onto his erection faster and faster until my core tightens and the sounds of pleasure leave my lips.

"Jesus, baby." Brian pants as he starts thrusting into me. He sits up briskly and jolts me into his body. Wet lips devour my neck and wrap around the aching peaks of my breasts, sucking and licking.

Brian's deft fingers find my clit. The combination of his thrusts, kisses, and touch is too much.

I grip his hair, swiveling my hips faster. Triumph fills me with each curse that leaves Brian's mouth.

I surrender to his fingers rubbing me and his lips kissing me as if he'll die if he stops.

My muscles clench around his length. Wave after wave, the pleasure swallows me whole, only growing in intensity with Brian's release when he grips my hips and guides my movements until he lets go with a groan.

"Bri," I whisper his name, leaning my damp forehead on his shoulder.

Brian buries his fingers in my hair, pressing me to him. His ragged breaths blow across my sweaty skin.

"I know, baby. My Princess, my Kitten, my whole fucking heart. I know."