Chapter 87
**Sara**
As we stepped out of the Golden Crunch, the cool night air hit us, a welcome relief from the greasy warmth inside. I stretched, my t-shirt riding up slightly, and caught Tom's eyes darting to the exposed skin of my midriff.
"Do you always stare at your students like that?" I teased, enjoying the way his cheeks flushed.
Tom cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Not everyone," he replied. "Just a specific student who seems to have a knack for distracting me."
"Oh? And who might that be?" I asked innocently, batting my eyelashes at him.
"I think you know exactly who I'm talking about."
I grinned, playing dumb. "I don't know who you're talking about. Care to enlighten me?"
Tom's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I think you'll find out at the right time."
"Tease," I muttered, giving him a playful shove.
He smiled, then gestured down the street. "How about a walk? Work off some of that fried chicken."
"Changing the subject, are we?" I raised an eyebrow. "But sure, why not? Lead the way."
We set off down the sidewalk, our shoulders brushing occasionally. The night air was cool against my skin, a welcome contrast to the heat that seemed to radiate between us.
"So," I said, breaking the comfortable silence, "is this how you usually end your dates? A romantic stroll after stuffing your face with greasy chicken?"
"This isn't a date, Sara."
"If it's not a date, then what exactly is this little rendezvous of ours?"
"Just a casual dinner between... friends," he replied, hesitating on that last word.
"Uh-huh," I drawled, unconvinced. "And what about this romantic moonlit stroll we're currently enjoying? Is that just a 'casual' after-dinner activity too?"
"I wouldn't call it a romantic stroll, per se. It's just... a walk. To aid digestion."
"Oh, come on, Tom. You can do better than that. Spill the beans. What's your usual post-dinner routine? Moonlit walks? Stargazing? Maybe a little salsa dancing?"
"If you must know, I don't usually have a set routine. It changes based on my mood, the weather, the company... Sometimes, I suggest a walk; other times, we might grab a drink somewhere."
I laughed at Tom's response. "How very spontaneous of you. I'm swooning already."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, furrowing his brow adorably in confusion.
"It means," I said, poking him in the chest, "that you're about as romantic as a textbook on quantum physics."
"I'll have you know I can be very romantic when I want to be."
"Oh really? Prove it," I challenged.
He opened his mouth to retort, then closed it again, his eyes scanning our surroundings. Suddenly, his face lit up. "Follow me," he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me along.
I let him lead me, curious about what he had in mind. We veered off the main street and down a smaller path. The streetlights grew fewer and farther between, and the sounds of the city faded into the background.
"Where are we going?" I asked, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling up inside me.
"You'll see," Tom replied.
We rounded a corner, and I saw what had caught his attention - a secluded park tucked away from the bustling city streets. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the grass.
"Well, well, Tom," I teased as we stepped into the park. "Luring me into a dark, secluded area? How very cliché of you."
"I thought you wanted romance. Isn't this romantic enough for you?"
I pretended to consider it. "Hmm, I don't know. It lacks mood lighting and violin music, don't you think?"
He pulled me closer, his free hand sliding around my waist. "I think we can make do without those, don't you?"
My breath caught in my throat as I looked up at him. The moonlight cast shadows across his face, making his eyes seem even more intense than usual. "I suppose we could give it a try," I murmured.
"That's the spirit," he said softly before kissing me.
His lips met mine, and suddenly, I couldn't care less about mood lighting or violin music. All that mattered was the feel of his body against mine, the taste of his lips, the warmth of his hands as they roamed my back.
I pressed closer to him, my fingers tangling in his hair. The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more passionate. I could feel the heat building between us, threatening to consume us both.
Tom's lips moved against mine with an intensity that made my knees weak. Thank God he was holding me up, or I might've melted into a puddle in the middle of the park. His hands roamed my back, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I arched into him, wanting - no, needing - to be closer.
"Sara," he breathed against my lips.
"Mmm?" I managed to mumble, too caught up in the moment to form words.
He pulled back slightly. "We should probably stop."
I blinked at him, my brain struggling to process his words. Stop? Was he kidding? "Why?" I asked.
"Because we're in a public park, and I'd rather not get arrested for indecent exposure."
I glanced around, suddenly remembering where we were. Oops. In the heat of the moment, I'd completely forgotten about our surroundings. Thankfully, Tom had a point, but the park was still deserted. Getting caught making out like horny teenagers wasn't exactly on my bucket list.
I cleared my throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure. "Right. Public park. Got it."
"As much as I'm enjoying this, perhaps we should continue our walk?"
"Probably a good idea," I agreed, reluctantly stepping back. "Before we end up on some 'Parks After Dark' reality show."
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