Awkward Adventures in Dating

by Elsa Kurt

  “I don’t usually drink white. Ice okay?”

  “Sure, that’s fine.”

  She smiled, taking the offered glass as Kyle sat down beside her, angling his body so they could face each other. She did the same. Except she began to slip off the too smooth leather seat, a mishap that would have to be seen to be believed. In her defense, the leather was very shiny, unworn, and her pants were a Lycra blend. Kyle wordlessly rescued her glass and waited, amused, for her to right herself before handing her glass back to her.

  They smiled at each other and sipped their wine. Suddenly, Kyle stood again, walking across the room and opening a drawer from which he pulled a long lighter. Then he walked about the room and lit the handful of scented candles about the room. Keira grinned as he did so, realizing at once he was nervous, too. It disarmed her completely. So, when he sat back down, she set her drink down on the coffee table and moved closer to him. Carefully, and while grasping the back of the sofa.

  Instead of going straight for the inevitable kiss, he put his arm around her and pulled her close against him. Keira rested her head comfortably against his chest, up high near his shoulder, let her shoes fall to the floor, curled her legs up on the couch, and breathed in his clean scent. Together, with the music playing soft and low, the flickering candles and the now steady rain tapping against the windows, they sat in peaceful comfort.

  Keira studied Kyle’s hand as it rested on his thigh. It wasn’t particularly rough or calloused, but it was a hand that often held a gun, made a fist, and cuffed criminals, making it seem that much more powerful to her. Despite that realization, it looked like the hand of an artist, too. Although if pressed to say why she thought that, she couldn’t. Not lifting her head, she asked him,

  “Strange question, but are you an artist?”

  He look down at her.

  “Why do you ask? And yes, sort of, I guess. Drawing, since I was a kid. Too busy these days though.”

  Keira nodded against his chest, then rested her hand over his, stroking the back of his fingers with her fingertips. He brought the hand, with hers still over it, to her face and tilted her chin. When he kissed her, it sent a shock wave through her pelvis. Slow, soft, deep. His tongue touched hers teasingly, he nuzzled her cheek with his own and found her mouth again and again with kisses that intensified. He breathed in deeply, then pulled away to look into her eyes. Seeing the consent in them, he rose and held her hand as she stood as well (rightly not trusting her balance). Without another word, he led her down a short hall to his bedroom.

  There, in the light of a candle on his dresser, he unbuttoned his shirt as they again kissed. Keira spread it apart, raking her nails against his bare chest and down his shoulders as she took it off him. His chest and shoulders were broad and muscled, his skin warm to the touch. Keira ran her hands back up his arms and rested them against his chest as he slid his hand under her blouse. Every move they made was slow and deliberate. There would be no rushing this series of sensations. They had all night.

  As they neared the bed, Kyle teased her bare skin with his fingertips as she’d done to him, running them up and down her sides and her back. When he reached the clasp of her bra, he unhooked it with a skill that caused her to pause and give him an incredulous grin, to which he shrugged and offered,

  “Beginners luck?”

  She scoffed, then pushed him back on the bed. Next, she crossed her arms, grasping the edge of her top and raising it over her head. Unfortunately, he leaned forward in the same moment, and she clocked his nose with her elbow.

  “Oh, damn, sorry.”

  “Ow. It’s okay. I’m okay. Am I going to need to wear a helmet around you?”

  Keira was mortified, she had gotten through the whole night with minimal mishaps, and when it was most crucial to not be a klutz... she whacks the guy she’s about to sleep with right in the face. Kyle rubbed his nose for a few seconds longer, holding a finger up to signal he needed a moment, then dropped his hand and grinned at her.

  “Okay, killer. Take one step back,” she did, “now, take off the rest of those clothes... careful

  now.”

  He said it commandingly, but in a sexy as hell kind of way, with a tease at the end that made Keira forget the embarrassment of just minutes ago. With her clothes now at her feet, and only her panties remaining, she carefully stepped out of them and approached Kyle, who’d been watching her from the bed. She stood in between his legs, cupping his face in her hands as he flicked her nipples with his hot tongue. His hands kneaded and caressed her hips and thighs, then moved over the swell of her ass and down between her legs. He gently pulled them apart, letting his fingers rub against the junction of her thighs. Her knees nearly buckled when he ran his thumb over her sweet spot, and so he grabbed her behind her knees and pulled him on top of him as he laid back.

  Keira couldn’t get his pants off him fast enough. She felt the size of him through the rough denim, but once she freed him, her eyes widened. Keira couldn’t stop herself from thinking, ‘well, hello.’ Before she could think any more about the large surprise in his pants, he flipped them over so that he was on top. As slowly as he’d done everything else, he slid his body up hers until they aligned their pelvises. He dropped his head to hers, brushed his lips against her mouth and teased her opening with his cock. When she could take no more, bucking her hips up against him, begging with her body for him to enter her, he gave in. She gasped against his mouth just as his fullness filled her walls. She returned his kiss as they rocked to a crescendo.

  After, as they both lay panting and drenched, Keira noticed another sound over the music.

  “Kyle?”

  “Hmm?” he replied.

  “Are your dogs still outside?”

  “Shit. Yeah, they are. Damn, hang on. You’re gonna want to throw something on, they’ll come barreling in here.”

  He deftly rolled her off him, threw on a pair of sweatpants, and tossed her his t-shirt as he walked out of the room. A moment later came the unmistakable sound of doggie paws on the hardwood floor as they ran toward the bedroom. They were too small to clear the edge of the bed, so they leaped against the side until Keira petted them. It was then she noticed the doggie bed on the corner of the floor.

  “Aw, you have them sleep in here with you? That’s so sweet. You are just full of surprises.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I get it, a big guy with little dogs. What can I say, I’m secure in my manhood, I guess.”

  “Deservedly so,” Keira blushed as soon as the words were out of her mouth and she hurriedly changed the subject.

  “So, you, uh, lived here for how long, you said?”

  Kyle laughed at her, but not unkindly.

  “Travis, are you blushing right now? That is kinda adorable. Hey, I like the way my shirt looks on you.”

  He gave the sleeve a little tug as he climbed back in bed beside her. His shirt fit as expected, oversized, and hung off her shoulder. He ordered the dogs to go to their bed, which they obliged. Then he pulled the covers over them and her close to him. She turned so they were face to face, and they grinned at each other.

  “How’s your nose,” she asked.

  “Broken likely, thanks. Kidding, it’s fine. Next time, though— I’ll be sure to watch out for those flying elbows, man.”

  Next time.

  “Ah, so you’re planning a next time, are you?”

  Kyle shrugged and feigned nonchalance.

  “You’re a keeper… so far.”

  Keira laughed aloud, he’d unwittingly used her exact phrase, so she explained to him her thoughts.

  “So, there you have it. I like you, obviously, and so far. I’d like to continue to see where this goes. And, don’t get freaked out, but I’m going to not see anyone else while we… explore this. All I ask is if you give me a heads up if you’re going to be seeing someone else. Fair enough?”

  “Fair enough. Can I tell you something,” Kyle then laughed at seeing the wary expression on Keira’s face, “easy, T
ravis, nothing bad, or weird. I was supposed to see a different concert with a woman I’d met a couple times before you, and I kinda sorta blew her off to go out with you tonight. Pretty sure she won’t be calling again.”

  He looked sheepish, but not too sorry. Keira had her own, similar confession.

  “Funny you should say. I was supposed to go see Lindsey Buckingham tonight with a guy from MateMatch I’d seen a couple times, too.”

  “Lindsey Buckingham?” He made a swipe of his hand to say puh-lease and added, “No comparison. I was going to see Earth, Wind, and Fire. Mine trumps yours. Just sayin’.”

  They jokingly argued over whose sacrifice was more significant, deciding at last it was a draw. They were both getting sleepy, with more extended spells of quiet when Kyle whispered the looming question.

  “Travis,” Kyle mumbled, “do you want to stay the night?”

  Her answer surprised herself. “I think I’d like that.”

  “Good, ‘cause I’m too damn tired to drive now.”

  She gave him a lighthearted shove which led to a playful poke from him. They exchanged lively jabs and swats, and next thing they were locked in a passionate kiss. Her core pulsed with renewed lust, his hardness spoke his desire. This time, their lovemaking was fast and hard. He gathered her hair in his hand and tugged, she scratched her nails down his back and held tight to his firm ass as he thrust deep into her. When they were both spent and exhausted, breathing heavily and smiling, Keira laughed.

  “Are you trying to give me a complex? What’s so funny?”

  “No, silly. I just realized your dogs are still in here.”

  “Ah, damn. Sorry about that.” Then he called out, “Sorry boys, that must’ve been creepy for you, too.”

  The dogs were indifferent and merely raised their heads curiously once before going back to sleep. The humans were not as interested as they thought themselves to be, it would seem. After all that, they were too tired to speak, and within a short time Keira could hear and feel Kyle’s breathing slow and deepen. He was asleep. She turned to look at him, this man who was sneaking into her heart. She resisted the urge to run her finger along his temple, his square, stubbled jaw, not wanting to wake him. At last, sleep overtook her, and her final conscious thoughts were of their sweet and passionate lovemaking, on her lips, a smile.

  14 WHEN DO WE MEET HIM

  Chapter Thirteen in The Smart Woman’s Guide To Dating. So, you’ve decided to ignore my advice and see someone exclusively. And now, you’re going to have him meet your friends. This should be interesting.

  “Are you seriously reading this? ‘The Smart Woman’s Guide To Dating’? Is this, like, a joke? If it’s not, it might be the lamest thing you have ever, ever done.”

  “Molly. Give me that back. No, I’m— okay, fine. Yes, I’m reading it. Or at least I was. It’s like if Blanche Devereaux could have a baby with Rose Nylund and it grew up to write dating advice.

  It’s awful.”

  How rude.

  “That was literally the weirdest analogy I have ever heard. Anyhow… you ready for tonight?”

  “As I’ll ever be.”

  “Atta girl. It’ll be fine. Tell Kate I said I’ll see her later. I’ve gotta get home to make the potato salad I promised to bring.”

  “Will do. See you tonight.”

  Five more weeks had gone by, and after seeing each other as steadily as a man on shift work and a woman with two kids home for summer vacation could see one another, Keira was ready for Kyle to meet the friends. Or at least, ready as she’d ever been. She was more anxious than she cared to admit. Their opinions mattered very much to her, and she’d resigned herself to trust their judgment. To her, he was amazing, incredible, gorgeous and sweet, but would see him in the same light? Was she blinding herself to faults and fatal flaws, or red flags warning her away? Keira didn’t think so, but better safe than sorry.

  “So, you’re bringing Mr. Interesting to the party,” Kate asked a short time later as they picked vegetables in Keira’s garden. “You won’t chicken out, right?”

  “I am definitely bringing Mr. Interesting to the party. You’re not going to call him that are you? Remember, his name is Kyle.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I remember. You know how it is though. Everyone gets a nickname. It’s, like, the law. Oh, weren’t we switching it to Kyle the Cop? Hmm, nah. Mr. Interesting has already stuck, I think.”

  It was true, they’d done it since high school. Anyone they dated got a spontaneous, rarely flattering nickname that almost always stuck. Darren naturally was Darren the Dick. Tony was Tight Ass Tony (not for having a great ass, as Kate led him to believe, but because he made Kate split the bill on their first date). Eric was Captain America because of some embarrassing childhood pictures Molly had found at his mother’s. The list stretched back far and wide, amusing them to no end. So, being dubbed ‘Mr. Interesting’ was a non-insult, but Keira still wanted to spare—

  “Yourself, admit it. You’d be so embarrassed if he knew how much thought you put into meeting him.”

  “Whatever, Katie-Kate. I, I mean we, will see you tonight. I’m bringing pesto chicken, from the fresh basil in the garden and peach sangria.”

  “Perfect. I can’t wait. The older kids are all going to be at Moll’s with Janice supervising, the younger ones are having a sleepover at the Rivera’s, and we, my dear, will party till we puke.”

  “Aren’t we getting too old to be partying until we puke?”

  Kate set her basket on the bench with theatrical indignation.

  “Hush your mouth, woman. And speak for yourself. Besides, you and Molly are the wild ones remember? Oh, and speaking of Molly— you did not hear this from me— you’ll never guess who I saw her with at the grocery store yesterday.”

  “Um,” Keira pretended to think for a moment, “Eric?”

  “Yes. And they were looking quite chummy, I must say. Did you know anything about that?”

  Ugh, thought Keira. She was the absolute worst liar, no poker face. The moment she denied knowing anything was afoot, Kate would call her out. She braved the inevitable wrath of Molly and fess up.

  “Well, I sort of figured something. Like, that they were talking. But the grocery store... that’s a surprise. Chummy, huh? What do you think of that?”

  Kate shrugged as she picked at a Shasta daisy that bordered the garden.

  “Hey, whatever makes her happy. Captain’s a good guy, he loves her. Sure, his mother is a nightmare, but if that’s the worst thing they’ve got going on, fuck it. Nothing is perfect, am I right?”

  Keira readily agreed. Nothing was perfect, nor did it need to be. Kyle not only echoed her sentiment, but he also expanded on it in one of their marathon conversations. As the relationship grew, the realities of his job sank in. Keira expressed her worry and concern for his safety. What he responded with stuck with her and she truly saw all things in the same light.

  “Think of it like this,” he’d begun, “if you worry about every single thing that’s out of your control, you’ll spend your whole life in fear, and never experience all the happiness that’s out there. Don’t get me wrong— fear is natural, good even because it keeps you from doing stupid shit, but you can’t live in that state all the time, right? It means a lot you care enough to worry about me. All I can promise is to do my part of being as safe as I can be, and all you can do is trust that to be true. Let’s just live every day fully, okay?”

  She had agreed, a bit misty-eyed, and they’d talked about the future, one that had words like ‘us’ and ‘we’ in it. She relayed the gist of the conversation to Kate, who nodded in agreement.

  “Yeah, he’s right. Keira, I think we’re gonna like him. I have to say, I like the way you’ve been acting lately. That’s for sure.”

  “Oh? How do you mean?”

  “Well,” she weighed her words carefully before speaking, ‘for one, you’re more confident. You don’t have that deer in headlights look anymore. You don’t look like a damn skelet
on anymore, either— and before you say it, no you have not gotten fat. You look healthy again. I don’t know how much of it is this guy, or what, but happy looks good on you, kid.”

  “Aww, Katie-Kate. I stinkin’ love you.”

  Once again, Keira was misty eyed. It happened a lot now, those happy tears. She’d spend so many years bottling her emotions, bottling herself, trying not to feel anything because everything was too much. But now, she was free of so much of what had held her back. Kyle— his personality, and outlook— only enhanced what was already in progress. In fact, Keira believed it was because of her new attitude she attracted someone like him— confident, collected, secure- into her life. She was letting the right people in and keeping the wrong people out.

  Keira sent Kate off with a full basket of produce and more thanks for their talk, and she walked into the house to see Violet on her laptop with a bemused expression on her face.

  “Whatcha looking at, Vi?”

  She was supposed to be working on her summer packet for next year, but Keira suspected she was on social media or messaging with her friends.

  “Um, Mom? Who the heck is Jason, and why won’t you return his calls?”

  Keira’s face reddened, and she blustered, “What? Why— he, wait— how do you—”

  “Relax, Mom, I know you date, geez. He thought it was you online, and he messaged you, so I answered.”

  “Oh, Violet. Seriously? You messaged him back?”

  “Yeah, what’s the big deal? He seems nice. He wants to know what he did wrong, and why you won’t return his calls.”

  “So, he knows you are my daughter, and he continued to message you?” Keira was becoming livid. “And he asked you, my daughter, why I won’t talk to him? Give me that thing.”

  Violet, in perfect fifteen-year-old fashion, found the whole thing funny.