While Jeff and JoAnna had their dinner, sun dipped below the horizon, providing a visual treat of fiery sky before wishing them good night. Soon the only light they had in a moonless evening was coming from the tiki torches. Villa was lit up as soon as darkness fell, due to in-built automatic dusk-to-dawn light control, but the light reaching them from the villa was negligible.
JoAnna felt high, like she is floating in a world of dreams where anything is possible. She was on her back, watching countless stars that speckled the black sky, listening to the sounds of the ocean. JoAnna held hands with Jeff in silence, their fingers intertwined. Besides breathing, no other noise came from them.
Jeff was propped on his elbow, watching her face illuminated by dancing flames from the tiki torches, millions of stars reflecting in her eyes. Even after spending so much time with her, he could not wrap his head around the fact that he is attracted to her so much. He was bewitched by her and could not look away. Even more amazing was that she has strong feelings about him. Jeff hoped that they can stay like that forever, one next to another, holding hands... maybe closer. He was greedy, not willing to share her with anyone, and he wanted her closer to him, always. His heart was stirred by the thought that he asked her to come to LA and stay with him, but she didn't respond to that. Everything so far pointed in the direction that she wants to be with him, but not hearing it clearly from her mouth, made him anxious. There was always that spec of possibility that she will leave him, go back to Seattle, back to her life before he waited for her at that underground parking lot, before he ended up as a patient in room 412 of Franciscan Medical Center.
"Anna..." He called her name without much thinking and regretted immediately when he realized that he didn't plan what he will say next. Her gaze was now focused on his face, expecting to hear what he is about to say. Jeff hesitated, while his brain simulated several different scenarios. He was not happy with the imaginary outcome of any of them, but he has to say something... she is looking at him. "Did you find time to think about moving your medical residency from Seattle?"
"Yes." JoAnna was happy he brought the topic. She wanted to tell him that she made a decision but could not find the right opportunity.
"And?" He looked at her expectantly.
JoAnna saw that he is anxious and decided to tease him.
"I know where I want to move to." She answered without giving him a proper answer and could not keep her lips from stretching into a smile.
Jeff saw that she is giving him hard time on purpose and could not help but feel dejected. "Are you going to tell me?"
"What do you want to hear?" She giggled. JoAnna felt that most of the time he is the dominant one in their relationship, and this was a rare chance for her to come on top.
"I hope to hear that you will come to LA..." Jeff swallowed hard. "...and move in with me." His heart was beating wildly, expecting her answer.
"OK." She replied shortly.
"OK, what?" Jeff was not sure what kind of an answer was that... is she still teasing him?
"I will come to LA and move in with you." JoAnna was looking him in the eyes and smiled.
He held his breath and looked at her face, trying to see if she is serious or not.
"I'm not deceiving you..." JoAnna shifted closer to Jeff and laced her fingers into his hair. "Jeffrey White, I'm not able to stay away from you. Options are that either you are coming with me, or I'm coming with you. And I know that it's more convenient that I come to LA... I found a medical facility where I want to move to, and when we get back, I will start paperwork."
He was happy that she will come to LA, but she talked only about her residency. Jeff wants her to stay with him, and he needs to confirm what she wants to do. He inhaled before asking, "You will stay with me? Two of us, together... in my apartment?"
JoAnna smiled. "Yes, I will move in with you."
Jeff was breathing heavily and not saying anything for some time. He was staring at her, without blinking.
JoAnna was worried that he is about to hyperventilate. "Are you OK?"
Jeff vigorously nodded and then dropped on top of JoAnna, embracing her. "You have no idea how you make me feel." Hearing that she wants to move in with him made him overjoyed. This woman he adores actually wants to live with him! He will be able to wake up next to her every morning, and to kiss her good night every evening. Jeff thought that he is the luckiest man on earth.
JoAnna wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the feeling of his body on hers. She was able to feel the contours of his tight, defined muscles through thin clothes they wore, and her body heat started increasing with every move he made. But what made the excitement tenfold stronger was her heart, which felt like it's going to burst from all the emotions. Jeff filled every cell of her body, as if he possesses some magnetic force which makes her mind and body navigate toward him. She always wanted to be closer to him, and it was never close enough.
He felt her grip tightening on his back and smiled. "If you want something from me, you only need to ask."
"I..." JoAnna hesitated for few seconds. "You awoke hunger inside me, and you are the only one who can make me feel at ease. I want you to kiss me, and hold me, and touch me. I want you."
Jeff was very happy to hear her words, and it showed on his face. His hand landed on her knee, and his hot palm slowly inched up her thigh as he kissed her neck. His goal was to reach her panties and remove them. When his hand went all the way to her waist he inhaled sharply and lifted his head to look her in the eyes.
"You are not wearing anything under the dress?" He breathed heavily.
JoAnna was panting and her mind was hazy from desire. "You talk too much." She pushed his head back to her neck, and he resumed his kisses with newly found fervor.
Jeff and JoAnna removed each other's clothes and made love slowly, synchronizing movements with the sound of the ocean. They savored every touch on the blue blanket, surrounded with white sand, and illuminated by tiki torches.