“His warm voicetiptoes into thequiet room.”

“I love fallThe seasonof warm colors”

“He isbetter than warm fall colorsbetter than beautiful musicbetter than doughnuts and coffee”

“One outerpaddles aroundon his back, spinning a blue ballon his tummy.I could watch them for hours.Because they get it.They get that life is short and you should justforget the crapand have fun.”

“I peelhiss tense fingerson his right handaway fromthe steering wheel, onetwothreefourfive.With each finger,the scowldiappearsa little more. when i placehis hand onmy legand gentlycaress it, he smiles.That's better.”

“WRAP ME UPI shiver.He pulls away."Are you cold?" he asks."A little.Plus... you know.""What?""Um... your kisses?"He laughs,pulls me downonto the blanketand wraps his armsand legs around me.Perfect.My kind of blanket.”

“He cups my facewith both handsleans in,eyes lingering asweet secondbefore his lips are there on mine,teasing, playing, tasting, kissing.When he pulls away,I'm breathless.He nuzzles my ear."Now that's thrilling."You got that right.”