Inspire (9 page)

Finally, after zooming all around, Travis slowed toward a cove on the north side of the lake, and shut the engine off. The area was quiet and secluded with nothing surrounding us but trees. It was so peaceful and seemed as if no one was around for miles. Travis shifted in front of me and turned so that we were now facing each other on the seat. I was still amazed by how comfortable I felt with him, there was no ball of nerves in my stomach only little butterflies flipping around wondering what would come next.

“So what do you think? Fun?” he asked, giving me such a sexy grin that I almost jumped him on the spot. The boy was HOT and definitely knew what he was doing.

“It was fantastic! So are you going to let me drive now?” I teased, testing to see his reaction.

“Maybe,” he said playfully and gave me a little wink.

“Maybe?” I questioned right back wanting to find out the stipulation.

“You have to tell me more about yourself first and then I’ll let you drive.”

“Oh, I see. What would you like to know?” I grinned, playing right along.

“Tell me everything. I just want to learn more about you Paige,” he said and then leaned forward putting his hands on my knees.

“You’ve put me on the spot, anything specific you want to know?” I was so distracted by his touch that I didn’t know where to begin.

“Tell me what made you start the Pri*Tee Pixies Organization.”

I thought about it for a second before I spoke, because that part of my life has always been so personal. Other than Tracey and my parents I’m not really sure anyone else knows what made me want to start the charity. For some reason I felt I could be honest with Travis and that he wouldn’t judge me. I really did have this fear of being labeled a goody-two-shoes, but for some reason I felt that Travis would just get it.

“It kind of goes back to when I was little. My dad has always wanted to keep me grounded no matter how wealthy we were or where we lived. So, he gave me some different options for how I could volunteer my time on Sunday afternoons. I chose working at the soup kitchen in the city because I thought that it might be the easiest out of all of my options. I was young and naïve at the time,” I added just so Travis wouldn’t judge the reason for my decision.

“Well, after a while, I got to know some of the people and realized what a struggle so many faced. But no matter how hard their lives were, they always managed to say thank you and show their appreciation. Some would even come by and tell me jokes, then say that it was their way of paying me for my kindness. It touched my heart being there and I always looked forward to my Sunday afternoons. Anyway, one Sunday night my friends and I met up at a restaurant after I got back in from the city. It was a pretty pricey place which made me feel guilty, so I ended up just ordering soup. My friends on the other hand ordered filets, tuna, and other expensive dishes.” Travis was watching me closely as I spoke and I could see his eyes shifting between my eyes and my mouth. It made me instinctively run my tongue along my lower lip, which caused him to squeeze my skin under his palms. My desire was getting the best of me, so I needed to stay focused on what I was saying.

“Well, everyone got their food and I’m not kidding, every single one of them had an issue with something about their meal, and complained the entire time. It was amazing watching how one little burnt potato could upset someone or the fact that there were cherry tomatoes instead of heirloom tomatoes in the salad. The whole scene was sickening. Here I had just watched a bunch of people cry out of gratitude for some bland broth, and my friends were nitpicking over tomatoes. Not that my friends were bad people, but it became an eye opening experience for me. So I decided after that night, that although I couldn’t change everybody’s ways or make them see the light, I could get them to donate mega bucks that could then be used to help others that truly needed it. So, Pri*Tee Pixies was born. I combined my passion for dancing with my love of helping people and started hosting ticketed events where all of the proceeds go to the charity. And three years later, we have grown into something amazing. But of course, I couldn’t have done it without my best friend Tracey. She is my partner in crime in all of this.”

Travis had yet to say anything but was still just staring straight into my eyes with a look of awe on his face. “Paige that’s… I don’t even know what to say. You’re just amazing. That’s… incredible,” he said and I felt like he might think I’m Mother Theresa.

“I do have to be honest though, I still like my Gucci, and my Prada and have been known to totally waste money on clothes. So, I’m not all that saintly,” I added just so he would see that I’m not perfect.

“Hey! Everyone is allowed to have their guilty pleasures, so you can’t beat yourself up about that. Besides, I don’t know too many people our age who care about making a difference for others, so I would say you deserve your Prada.” Travis could see how important my work was and appreciated my efforts. My ex-boyfriend had told me that I should stop worrying about others and enjoy being a teenager, so Travis’s response made my heart beat fast.

“So what about you? What was it like growing up in Burlington and spending your summers here?” I asked, deflecting the attention so that it was now on him. I knew my cheeks were burning red, so I wanted to be out of the spotlight.

“It was okay. My dad is THE surgeon of the city, so I’ve always had a lot of attention. I grew up in a big house in an uppity part of town, and everyone seemed to know who we were. The attention kind of got to me after awhile though so I started rebelling, like a typical teenager I guess. That’s when I went out and got my job at the Coffee House instead of interning at my dad’s office. Something in me just needed to break away for a bit. I wanted to find my own identity away from my family. I’m thankful I did, it’s where I met most of my closest friends.” Travis was being so open that I felt comfortable asking him more about his life.

“How did your dad take it?” I asked, curious if his decision had caused a rift in the family at the time.

“My parents weren’t thrilled because shortly after I started working there I began getting my tattoos. I think my mom has finally realized that I never fit the “rich kid” stereotype and have always been a little rougher around the edges. So, she’s cool with it now, but it took her a little while to get used to because when I was younger I was a total prep.”

“Really?” I said, surprised by his admission.

“Oh yeah, I played football and soccer, always had the clean cut look, and hung out with all the other preps in town.” He chuckled at that, and I suddenly felt a little nervous knowing that I completely fell into the preppy category. “The job gave me independence and responsibility, and the body art has allowed me to express myself.”

His candidness was refreshing, and I was thankful that he was being himself and not putting on any airs to impress me. “Anyway, after a while, I took up rowing and joined the crew team, getting heavily into that. So although I wasn’t the star quarterback anymore, my parents were pleased that I was involved in some kind of organized sport again and that I wasn’t spending my days skateboarding or doing drugs.”

“Oh, so are you going to join crew at Columbia? I heard they have an excellent team.” I couldn’t help but interrupt because his comment piqued my interest. I had thought about becoming a coxswain, so I was really curious if he was considering it.

“Yeah, I think so. I’ve looked into it a bit, and probably,” he stated, nodding his head.

Everything that I was learning about Travis was making my crush grow deeper. Although he came from wealth, he was determined to be himself and not let society dictate who he should be. I felt like we had that in common, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“So what do your tattoos mean?” I asked, dying to have a closer look and an understanding behind each symbol. Travis was excited by my question and immediately removed his shirt.
Thank you
! I silently cheered, unable to help my inappropriate thoughts looking at his gorgeous body. Travis eagerly began his explanation pointing to the different symbols and I could tell that they truly did mean a lot to him.

“So as you can see, this is water and it sweeps up and around these different Chinese symbols. This one,” he said pointing to the symbol by his wrist, “stands for life. This one,” he said, moving up to his forearm, “stands for courage. This one means strength,” he moved up a little further and pointed to the one that cradled his incredible bicep. His finger then slid up to his shoulder and I followed the line of the muscle, craving to trace the path he took with my mouth. “This represents the trees.” He gestured to our surroundings and I could see the beauty in it and understood its importance without needing further explanation. “Basically, it is with strength and courage that I hope to face life and whatever it has to offer me. I’ve had to break away from expectations, so both have helped me find my own way.” I admired his honesty, and found myself brushing my fingers over the two symbols. He looked at me as I did and I felt his body warm to my touch, but I kept my focus on the tattoo studying the details, knowing that my cheeks were giving away my feelings.

“Then, let’s see. This one stands for family,” he said, pointing to the one to the right of his heart and I noted its placement. “Which is an obvious one because my parents mean so much to me and I am grateful for everything they have done and given me. I haven’t always made things easy for them, but they have always stuck by me. So, I hold them close to my heart.” I melted at his comment and let my hand wander over his chest touching the symbol and admiring the meaning of it. This time he moved himself closer and slid his hands up higher to rest on the sides of my thighs. My legs were instantly engulfed with goose pimples, and my insides ignited.

“The one to the left of my heart,” he said, taking my hand and sliding it across to the other symbol, “stands for love, which I hope to find.” I lifted my head, and our eyes locked. Something deep within shouted that I wanted to be his love, and I was shocked by how quickly I could find myself falling for a guy. I quickly brushed away the thought, and broke the stare.

“So, what about the water? What does it mean to you?” I asked, swirling my fingers around the waves encircling all of the other symbols, making my way across his chest and down his arm. His skin was warm, and I felt him squeeze the side of my legs as I brushed lightly over his skin. It took him a second, but then he finally spoke.

“I find myself most at peace when I’m out on the water. It’s so calm out here, so in some way water will always surround my life.”

He finished and I was left speechless. I was mesmerized by it all: Travis’s tattoos, his explanation of what everything meant, the fact that he truly has such a warm heart and wants to find love, and that he isn’t just some rich jock who doesn’t care about the world around him. Instead, he has made family, life, and love a priority.

“So, what do you think?” he asked, interrupting my silent reverie.

“I think they’re beautiful, actually. I hope that doesn’t come across as emasculating, but I think what they represent is truly beautiful,” I said, glancing over all of the symbols again. I slowly brought my eyes back up and met his stare. The energy between us was electrified and I could feel that something deeper was brewing on both ends. I just wasn’t going to be the one to make the first move.

“So would you ever get one?” he asked, giving me an endearing smile.

“Um… I actually have one. But no one knows about it except for Tracey, so you’re not allowed to tell anyone. Okay?”

“What? You do?” he practically shouted out of shock and the look on his face matched his tone.

“Yes,” I quietly said, nodding my head.

“Where?” Once again I found myself wanting to share all of my secrets with Travis, so I told him. “It’s right here,” I said, pointing to my hip.

“Wow, really?” he asked again, sounding like he doubted the fact.

“Yes, really,” I insisted.

“So, is it like a little heart or something? Because I saw you in that bikini yesterday and there wasn’t much being covered up, not that I minded,” he teased, waggling his eyebrows at me.

“Hey,” I shrieked and smacked his chest playfully. “I was covered up. My tattoo may be little, but some of the best things in life come in small packages,” I said, smiling with my chin up in the air feeling proud of my retort.

“That is very true,” he said, giving me a wink.

“So, it’s not a heart?”

“No, it’s a pixie,” I said finally.

“Can I see it?” he immediately asked, looking down longingly toward my clothing covered hip.

“Maybe,” I answered coyly.

“Maybe?” he repeated using my same tone from earlier and wanting to hear the stipulation.

“If you let me drive this, then I will show it to you,” I said sweetly.

“Deal. But there is one last thing I want to learn about you for now,” he said and his tone sounded very serious.

“What is that?” I asked curiously.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” I instantly smiled at his question and then leaned forward to whisper my answer in his ear.

“NO,” I said, brushing my lip against his lobe and then I shifted around him to assume the driving position.

Travis smiled in response and obligingly scooted back in the seat allowing me to have the control. Once I was situated, he wrapped his arms around my waist tightly and leaned into me. I instantly felt that his body had reacted the same as mine, because his heated state was pressing long and hard against my lower back. A shiver went through me, and goose bumps engulfed my arms. It was obvious that the two of us clearly wanted each other, and were resisting the same desires.

I drove around the lake for just a little while then decided Travis had waited long enough and it was time to reveal my tattoo to him. Slowing the wave runner to a stop, I turned it off out in the middle of the water. I stood up carefully and turned around trying to maintain my balance. Travis braced his hands on my hips so that I wouldn’t fall. Without saying a word, I started to unbutton my shorts and then slightly pulled them down at the waist so that I could gain access to the top of my bikini bottoms. Travis was staring at me with a look of lust written on his face and my body burned to the core. I slowly pulled down the top of the material while watching Travis’s expression as I revealed my pixie. He bit his lower lip as he leaned closer to read the letters falling from the wand.