“The guy who sold it to me said it’s like the Cadillac of the tent world.” Rhett says, as he chucks a hammer into the back of his truck. I admit I watched him the entire time he drove all four stakes into the ground—his arm muscles straining against the thin fabric of his Under Armour.
It’s a good thing he’s done this before because I don’t have the first clue about camping. In fact, I can’t help but laugh when I think about how this tent would look if he wasn’t here.
“What’s so funny, Sunny?”
“That rhymed.”
When I shiver, he runs his hands up and down my arms. “Are you cold?”
“A little, but we have sleeping bags to stay warm.”
“I plan on keeping you warm, but grab your pillow and a blanket out of the truck. I’ll get this mattress inside.”
I get goosebumps thinking about lying next to Rhett all night long. I’ve never shared a bed with a guy before let alone a boyfriend. But I have a feeling tonight will be a night filled with more firsts—and there’s nobody I’d rather share them with than Rhett.
He’s waiting next to the tent, messing with the zippers. “Got everything?”
I nod my head. “Is it okay if I change?”
Rhett blinks a couple times, swallows, and then finally gets it together. “Yeah, of course. I didn’t even think about that. Climb inside and let me know when you’re done.”
I clutch my clothes and my pillow against my chest, trying to get the nerve to tell him he doesn’t have to wait out here. “You can come inside with me. If you want.”
“I’ll be in. I need a minute.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m more than okay, Sunny. I’m about to lie next to you all night long. I can’t think of anything better.”
“But you don’t want to come inside?”
“I should probably wait out here,” he says, as he tries to discretely adjust himself.
Biting my lip, I try not to laugh. “Okay. I’ll only be a minute.”
Climbing inside the tent, I change out of my jeans and sweatshirt into a pair of yoga pants and a long sleeve T-shirt. I notice Rhett’s silhouette pacing back and forth outside the tent. I’ve never seen him nervous before, but he definitely is.
When I’m finished, I peek my head outside. “You can come in now.” I notice he’s changed, too. In true Rhett style, he even manages to make sweats and a basic, black pullover look hot.
I lie back on the air mattress, and Rhett flops down beside me. Only he does it a little too hard, and I flip off the side, landing face down on the ground.
“Shit!” he says, as he scrambles over to my side. “Are you okay?”
Laughing I tell him, “I’m fine, but if you didn’t want to sleep with me, all you had to do was say so.”
My laughter dies in my throat when he says, “Kinsley, all I want to do is hold you—whether it goes further or not. I have to have you next to me.”
His words land straight on my heart, and I’m positive he can feel how much I want him right now—how much I’ve been looking forward to spending the night with him. “I didn’t mean—” I start to say, nervously.
“Come’ere, Sunny.” He holds out his hand, pulling me on top of him. “There’s no rush. We have all weekend together.”
I rest my head against his chest, and he rubs soothing circles on my back. It’s enough to ease my nerves, but it doesn’t last long. Not when my body’s touching every inch of his. There are so many things I want to say to him—to tell him I want. But instead, I chicken out and settle for something else. Something boring. “It’s really cozy in here. Can we build a fire tomorrow?”
“Sure. Anything you want.”
When I gather enough courage, I lift my head and say it before I miss my chance. “If I can have anything, then I want you to kiss me.”
“I love kissing you. What else does my girl want?”
The second part takes a little longer to get out, and I’m not sure I can say the actual words. Rhett feeds off my insecurities, and tries to ease my nerves. “What is it? What else do you want?”
I force myself to stay right where I am with my head held high. If this is what I want, I should be able to tell my boyfriend. “I want everything, Rhett—all of you.”
"Yeah? Are you sure?"
Smiling shyly, I tell him, “I'm sure.”
Rhett closes his eyes, and exhales. When he opens them, I lick my lips, and bite down, waiting for him to make the first move. But I’m the one who started this conversation, so I sit up far enough to straddle his waist, and pull my shirt over my head.
He swallows, his eyes falling to my chest. I reach behind my back and unclasp my bra. We’ve gone this far before, but it still feels like the first time for the simple fact that this is only the beginning.
“Shit, Sunny.” He grabs my waist, and rolls me onto my back. Hovering over top of me, he reaches behind his head and pulls his shirt over his head.
Before I can ask him what he wants next, his mouth is on me. It feels incredible, but when I can’t take anymore, I reach down and slide my pants over my hips. He helps me pull them off the entire way until I’m completely naked. It’s dark inside the tent, and it helps me feel less self-conscious, but with the way he’s looking at my body, there’s no doubt he likes what he sees.
“Tell me to stop, Kinsley.”
“I don’t want you to.”
He lays down next to me and kisses my lips. “Your first time shouldn’t be in a tent in the middle of nowhere.”
“Why not?”
“Because it should be special. I should have flowers or something.”
I chuckle because flowers have nothing to do with having sex. “I don’t need anything, Rhett. And this is special—because I’m with you.”
He pulls his sweats over his hips, and I can’t help but stare. But when he reaches above his head and into his backpack, I close my eyes. This is really happening.
I hear the tear of the foil packet, and I lie completely still until he’s over top of me again. My heart’s beating so fast I feel it pulsing in my ears. I’ve waited for this moment, and now that it’s here, I’m terrified about what’s about to happen.
“I’ll go slow. If I hurt you, tell me to stop.”
I nod my head and bite the inside of my cheek. Slowly, he pushes inside me. At first it’s okay, but as he inches in, a burning pain erupts, and I clench my muscles.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m okay,” I lie. It isn’t the worst pain I’ve ever felt, but it’s not the most comfortable either. But I wanted this, and I’m not about to stop now.
He pushes a little more, and once he’s completely inside me, I’m afraid to move, so I don’t. Tears prick my eyes, and when he starts to pull out, the pain returns. I bite down harder, and they finally fall, soaking the pillow under my head.
“Look at me, Kinsley.”
I move my eyes, from the reflector patch on the side of the tent where I was focusing, to Rhett.
“Don’t cry, baby.”
“I’m okay. It doesn’t hurt as much anymore.”
“Do you want me to stop?”
I shake my head. “No, keep going. I want you to feel good.”
“I love you so much, Sunny.” He pushes in and out of me, his pace quickening, but still gentle enough that he doesn’t hurt me.
“I love you, too,” I whisper, as a few more stray tears fall.
Being with Rhett is nothing like I’d imagined it would be, yet it’s still one of the best moments of my life. Whether being with him changes us or not, I’ll never regret this night. Not with the way he’s looking at me right now. Like I’m his entire world.
KINSLEY’S TUCKED INTO my side with her arm thrown across my chest. I can see droplets from the cold morning air still resting on top of the tent, but inside, we’re nice and warm. Part of that has to do with the fact that we’ve been wrapped up in a sleeping bag big enough for two.