Little Rainbows by Helena Stone

and of course now several cars pulled up by the side of the road. As he lifted his head, he saw families with hordes of children moving to where they were standing.
    “Let’s go. There’s another, hopefully quieter, place I want to show you.”
    It satisfied him on a deep level to see Heather look as disappointed as he felt. The thought that this interruption might be a sign—that maybe they weren’t meant to be together—shot through his head before he ruthlessly pushed it down again. He would not allow himself to create problems where none existed. It wasn’t as if they didn’t have enough issues to overcome between the two of them.
    The lighthouse was only a few miles away, on one of the most western points of Ireland. As he’d hoped, they were on their own. Not many people ventured this far. Taking a blanket from the boot of his car, and with his arm once again around her, he walked Heather as close to the edge of the cliff as he dared.
    “Let’s sit here and enjoy the view.”
    Jason spread the blanket on the grass. His heart skipped a beat when Heather sat down close beside him. Nothing could convince him she hadn’t meant for their legs to touch.
    “This place is amazing.”
    A smile as bright as the sun shining down on them lit up Heather’s face. The setting was perfect. A calm and warm day, blue skies and hardly any wind, and yet the ocean appeared wild. They were alone, the peace and quiet only interrupted by the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks. Just him, Heather and the sea, again.
    “Remember the last time it was just us and the sea, Heather?”
    “In Wexford? Yes, I do. That was different though.”
    His mind traveled back. He couldn’t remember why, but Heather and he had been alone that day. The walk on the beach had been delightful, as had lying down in the sand for a rest. They’d had no intention of falling asleep, but the combination of warm sunshine and soft sand had been too much for both of them. When they’d woken up, they’d found themselves on a sandbank of sorts, surrounded by water. Not in any danger of ending up in the sea, thankfully, but with no way back to the rest of the beach without getting soaked. They’d sat there together for hours, looking at the sea, talking and, eventually, kissing.
    “That kiss.” Heather paused. “Those hours with you in the middle of the sea… It was the only time during that summer I thought I might have made a mistake when I decided not to pursue you.” She smiled. “I didn’t believe I could give Moira competition when it came to you, but that afternoon I thought maybe I should have tried.”
    “I know. I felt the same.” And he could still kick himself that he’d been too much of a coward to just drop Moira and hang on to Heather. “It felt right when I kissed you. Felt right in a way it never did with Moira.”
    Jason looked at Heather and saw in her eyes the same hunger he knew had to be shining out of his.
    He moved closer, giving her plenty of time to stop him or pull away. She didn’t. Just as slowly she moved closer to him. Her teeth nibbled on her bottom lip, her gaze jumped from his mouth to his eyes and back again, but she didn’t try to prevent what was about to happen.
    Mouth against mouth. Soft lips moving over his, finding every corner of his mouth. A small sigh and her lips were caressing his again. Her hand touched his cheek, stroking as her lips continued their investigation.
    “Jason.” His name was a breath against his lips, her slightly open mouth an invitation. No hurry, no rush, no force. Just lips stroking lips, tongues finding each other, touching, teasing, playing.
    Without removing his mouth from Heather’s, Jason pushed her until she was flat on her back. Leaning over her, he pulled away and drank in her beautiful features—her face relaxed, her eyes open and smiling at him, her lips parted. He traced his fingers over her skin, her lips, her ears. So soft. She pushed her face into his