With relief, I thank him and get in the other cop’s vehicle. When I close the door, he says, “I’m Officer Stevens. What’s your name, buddy?”

“Zacharias Easton,” I tell him.

“And your friend’s name?”

“Moira Reed,” I supply and then add on, “I really appreciate it. I can’t believe I got lost.”

“Can happen to the best of us,” he says while he types away on a small computer mounted to his dashboard. “So you really lived in the Amazon for eighteen years?”

“Yeah. My parents were missionaries there, and they died when I was eight. The tribe adopted me. I had no clue there was someone here in the States looking for me. Don’t remember a whole lot about my time here.”

“Fucking incredible,” he says thoughtfully. “Okay, I got it. Moira Reed… she’s over on Kopoula Street.”

“That’s it,” I say with recognition.

“Okay,” he says as he starts the car. “Put your seatbelt on, and I’ll have you home in a jif.”

When we pull up into Moira’s driveway, utter relief courses through me. It’s a shitty feeling being lost and out of control. I try to open the car door, but it’s locked.

“Hold on,” Officer Stevens says. “I’ll have to open it from the outside.”

He exits the car as I take off my seatbelt and, when the door opens, I step out onto the concrete driveway. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“No worries,” he says with a smile. “But I’m just going to go up to the door with you.”

Ahhh. I get it. He wants to make sure that Moira really does know me, and that I’m not some lunatic trying to murder her. Very impressive.

Just before we hit the front porch step, the door flies open, and Moira comes running out. She looks stunning, her flamed hair pulled up in a high ponytail. She’s wearing a butter yellow sundress with white flowers around the hem. “Oh, thank God, Zach. I’ve been worried sick about you.”

Her eyes flick back and forth between the cop and me, but when they rest back on me, she says in surprise, “You cut your hair.”

My fingers rise up and sift through the short locks. “Yeah… I guess so.”

She smiles at me briefly and says, “I like it.”

Turning to the police officer, she says, “Is everything alright?”

“Everything’s fine, ma’am,” he assures her. “He just got a little lost and couldn’t remember how to get back here. I assume you know this man.”

“Yes, he’s staying with me while visiting from Brazil.”

“He told me the story. That’s pretty amazing,” he says kindly. “Well, I need to get back out there. You two take care.”

We both say goodbye, standing on the porch and watching as the officer pulls out of her driveway. When he’s gone from sight, I turn around and look at Moira. “I’m sorry you were worried. I just went walking and don’t understand how I got so lost.”

Before I know what’s happening, Moira launches herself at me, slamming her body into mine. Her head rests on my chest, and her arms wrap around my waist. Squeezing tight, she says, “I was going out of my mind with worry. I had no clue what happened to you.”

My arms come up and tentatively wrap around her. The way she’s so boldly touching me now confuses me. It’s not a sexual touch, but rather a warm embrace of relief. It’s nice to have been missed.

“That’s it,” she says as she releases me and pulls back. “We’re going out right now and buying you a cell phone so you can call me if something like that happens again.”

“Sounds good,” I tell her with a grin. “I know there won’t be a cop on every street corner to rescue me every time.”

Moira turns away and heads back into the house. I follow her in, noting that her shoulders still look tight, so I know something else is bothering her. She walks into the kitchen and picks up her coffee cup that was on the table. I watch as she pours the contents into the sink and then rinses the cup.

I silently walk closer to her and, when she turns around, I don’t hesitate for a second. My hands go to her face, and I pull her in closer to me. Her eyes go wide, and her mouth opens slightly.

Perfect.

I lower my face and touch my mouth to hers.

Our very first kiss.

My very first kiss with a woman.

Moira sighs at the light touch, and instinct takes over. I slip my tongue in between her lips… past her teeth and, when it touches hers, a breath of pleasure releases from my mouth into hers. My lips move against hers, our tongues twining. She tastes like coffee and sugar. Unbelievable how soft her lips are.

Wrapping her hands around my neck, Moira pulls me down a little closer, and our mouths move just a little harder against one another. My blood quickens as my hands move from her face to her h*ps to pull her body into mine. My c**k starts to harden, and I understand now… how a soft and sweet kiss can turn bolder, becoming so sensuous that sex would be the next logical step.

Yes… sex is definitely next on the list. That wasn’t my original thought when I first kissed her, but it’s certainly my thought now.

My only thought as a matter of fact.

Dropping my hands, I swiftly put one hand under the hem of her skirt and run my fingers up the inside of her leg. Moira gasps into my mouth and her h*ps flex forward, seeking my touch. I slip one finger under the edge of her panties at the crease of her leg, and take a swipe at her pu**y. Warm and moist… fucking perfect.