What the Heart Desires

by Jaime Derelle

  Her heart instantly began to beat faster. Was he really talking to her? She looked up to see the tall, dark-haired heartthrob who had been eyeing her from the other end of the park looking down at her with an alluring smile on his face.

  Elise cleared her throat before answering. She couldn’t believe this guy was actually talking to her.

  “Um, it’s a book of Christian poetry. My, um, my mom gave it to me,” Elise said nervously, stumbling through her words.

  “Poetry, eh? Sounds pretty deep. Mind if I sit down?” the dark-haired Adonis of a man walked around the bench to sit down next to her before she could conjure up an answer.

  Elise scooted over a bit and sat her poetry book down on her lap before turning to face the handsome heartthrob that had suddenly joined her on the bench. Her heart was pounding fast and hard, and she was trying to keep her cool. This was the first guy at the school who had ever shown her any attention, and she was finding it hard to believe he was actually interested in her.

  She looked at the young man who had sat down to talk to her. He was absolutely gorgeous. His thick dark hair brought out the seaweed color of his beautiful green eyes. He was smiling at her and looking directly into her face. She could feel her cheeks starting to redden and quickly lowered her head to look down at his hands

  “Name’s Kevin,” he said, and extended his hand to her. She sat there for a moment, still somewhat in shock.

  “Elise,” she replied, looking down at his hand and then quickly offering her own, expecting him to give it a firm shake. To her surprise, he took her hand and placed it inside his own. He then lowered his head down and gently kissed the top of it. His sensual green eyes never left hers.

  Elise felt her face grow hot and knew she was blushing. She smiled shyly back at him and put her hand back in her lap.

  “So, Elise, you have a very lovely name,” his eyes were staring directly into hers, and she couldn’t help but stare back. She was still somewhat in shock and feeling mesmerized by his presence.

  “Thank you,” Elise murmured, still entranced by Kevin’s gorgeous eyes and sexy smile.

  Is this your first year here?” he asked, leaning his right arm across the top edge of the park bench.

  Elise looked slowly around the park, wondering if anyone was watching them. For a moment, she wondered if she was the subject of a cruel bet or the butt of a sick joke that one of the popular girls from her dormitory was playing on her. However, no one seemed to be paying them any attention.

  “Elise?” the sound of Kevin’s voice brought her back to reality.

  “Um…yes. I’m a freshman here at Covington,” she told him, trying to avoid stammering through her words.

  “Yea, I figured as much,” he said, “So what’s your major?”

  “I’m majoring in education. I…uh, I want to be a teacher,” she answered.

  Kevin was chewing on his gum and smiling intently at her. He looked as cool and laid back and as ever. He crossed his right leg up over his left knee as he continued their conversation.

  “A teacher, eh? Sounds pretty awesome,” he said.

  He was looking her over as he talked to her, and he was making no effort to hide it. His eyes traveled down from hers as he scanned the length of her figure. He noticed her lips, pouty with gloss. Her face only showed the faintest signs of makeup unlike a lot of the girls he usually hit on, and he liked that about her. She had a natural beauty about her. It was subtle, but still very noticeable.

  She was wearing a cream-colored, button-up blouse, and although it was a modest top, the curves of her breasts were still very much prominent, and Kevin wondered if she was wearing a bra underneath it. She was wearing a silky, flowery skirt, also very modest, and the bottom of it rested just above her knees. Her smooth, tan legs glistened in the sunlight and he could tell that she kept them smoothly-shaven.

  “So I’ve seen you around here a few times. I was wondering if you might want to hang out sometime, you know?” he asked.

  Elise was stunned. She couldn’t believe this guy was really asking her out. If her parents had known she was even talking to a guy like him, they’d both probably have heart attacks and die. She smiled back at him, watching his lips move as he spoke.

  “Um…sure,” she said quickly, hoping he was serious but at the same time, wondering what he could possibly see in a girl like herself.

  Kevin reached into his right jacket pocket and pulled out his smartphone.

  “Why don’t you put your number in my phone so I can give you a call sometime,” he said, handing her his phone.

  It was more of a statement than a question. Elise couldn’t help but to admire the way he spoke with such confidence and authority.

  “Okay,” Elise replied nervously. She saved her cell phone number in his phone under her name and handed it back to him.

  “Cool,” he said casually, putting his phone back in his jacket pocket.

  “So, I’m about to shoot some hoops with my buds,” he told her, “but I’d like to take you out later if you’re not busy.”

  Elise was still in a mild state of shock. She couldn’t believe this guy just hit on her. She hoped he was serious and that he was really going to call her later.

  “That sounds…great,” Elsie blurted out, for lack of a better response.

  “Ok,” Kevin stood up and extended his hand once again.

  He kissed her hand once more before bidding her adieu and heading over towards the basketball court. Elise couldn’t help but stare at him as he walked away. She was mesmerized by his walk, and couldn’t break her gaze. He turned back for a moment and winked at her as if he’d known she had been watching him. Embarrassed, she raised her right hand up and shot him a nervous wave. She smiled awkwardly and then quickly went back to reading her book.

  Chapter 2

  Elise was washing dishes when her cell phone started to ring. Her ringtone was an old gospel song her mother had programmed in her phone before giving it to her as a gift on her last birthday. She didn’t recognize the number, but she answered it anyway, thinking it could be Kevin, and she didn’t want to miss his call.

  “Hello?” she answered.

  “Hey Lovely,” she heard Kevin’s voice on the line.

  “Hi,” she said, feeling her heart skip a beat.

  “So, I was wondering if you wanted to grab some grub down at the local diner,” said Kevin.

  It was more of a statement than a question, but Elise was utterly thrilled that he had even called her.

  “Uh…sure,” she replied, “I’ll meet you there in half an hour.”

  “You sure you don’t want me to pick you up?” Kevin asked.

  Elise thought about it and then decided against it. Her dorm roommate was snotty and very nosy. She figured it’d be best if she met him at the diner.

  “No it’s fine, I want to walk anyway,” she told him.

  “Ok, Lovely,” he replied, “I’ll see you there in half an hour.”

  She loved the fact that he was calling her “Lovely,” but it also made her very nervous. She wondered how many other girls he said it to, and then shook the thought from her mind. There was just something about Kevin that really intrigued her, and she was determined to get to know him better.

  Just as Elise was about to walk out the door, her cell phone rang again. She answered it quickly, without checking to see who it was, thinking it might be Kevin.

  “I’m on my way,” she answered.

  “On your way where?” her mother’s voice said on the other end of the line, sounding concerned.

  Elise gasped in surprise. She hadn’t been expecting a call from her mother so early.

  “Oh, hi mom,” Elise stammered, “I was just, uh, on my way to meet a friend from class.”

  Elise hated lying to her mother, but she didn’t feel like explaining herself at the moment. Her mother would never approve of her going out with a guy like Kevin.

  Her parents had been very firm about her dating while away a
t college. They wanted her to concentrate on her studies and graduate first. They didn’t want any “college guys” distracting her from her studies.

  “Oh really? Who’s this ‘friend’ you’re meeting?” her mother asked, sounding suspicious.

  “Um…just a girl from my Psych 101 class. She uh…wants to go over some notes for a test,” said Elise, cringing at the sound of her own lies.

  “Oh. Does this girl have a name?” asked her mother.

  “Uh, yeah, Shellie,” Elise said off the top of her head.

  “Oh. Is she a nice girl?” her mother pressed.

  “Well, I uh don’t really know her that well mom. She just knew I did well on my last test and she came and asked me to study with her today,” Elise replied, as she walked down the hall of her dormitory and headed for the exit door.

  “I see,” her mother said, sounding a little unconvinced.

  “Listen mom, I’ve gotta go. I’ll be back in before curfew, though. I’ll call you back then,” said Elise.

  “Ok, don’t study too hard now,” her mother said, half-jokingly. “I’ll be waiting for that call.”

  “Okay mom, bye,” Elise hang up and stuck her phone in her purse.

  Elise walked into the diner and slowly looked around. Kevin was seated at a table in a corner not far from the entrance. He smiled and waved at her when he saw her. She walked over to where he was sitting and he pulled a chair out for her.

  “Thanks,” she said, as she sat down across from him.

  “Glad you could make it,” he said at her with the same sexy smile he’d given her earlier in the park.

  Elise could feel her cheeks growing hot again. She had never been around guys like Kevin before and she felt excited just being in his presence.

  “I already took the liberty of ordering you an ice water with lemon,” he said, handing her a menu, “I hope that’s okay.”

  He winked at her and Elise thought she might melt right there in her seat.

  “Um…yeah, that’s fine, thanks,” she replied and opened her menu.

  “So, I can tell you’re pretty shy, huh?” Kevin said, closing his menu and leaning back in his seat while watching her look through the selections.

  “I um…I don’t get out much,” she said softly, looking at him from over the top of her menu.

  “So what’re you in the mood for?” he asked.

  “Um, I’ll probably get a chicken salad with Italian dressing,” she replied.

  “Uh oh,” Kevin laughed suddenly, “you’re not one of those ‘salad’ girls are you?” he teased.

  Elise’s cheeks turned bright red and she smiled at him.

  “Listen, Lovely, I’m treating, so you can get whatever you want. Get a burger or something. Don’t be afraid to eat around me,” he said with a hearty chuckle.

  Elise was nervous but excited at the same time.

  “My parents don’t uh…they say I shouldn’t eat a lot of red meat,” she responded, looking down at the photo of a juicy burger.

  Kevin leaned in and with his right hand, brought her chin up to look in his face.

  “Well, your parents aren’t here are they?” he said, slyly, raising his eyebrows and casting that same sensual, devilish smile at her that made her want to melt.

  Elise smiled back at him, shyly.

  “Okay,” she conceded, “I’ll try a burger.”

  “Good! Now we’re cookin’!” Kevin said and sat back in his seat.

  The waitress came over to take their orders.

  “Hey Trace,” Kevin said smiled at the waitress.

  “Hey Kev,” the waitress replied, “What can I get for you two this evening?”

  Kevin pointed at Elise and said, “Tracy, this is Elise. Elise, meet Tracy,” he said, introducing the two girls to one another.

  “Hi, a pleasure to meet you,” Tracy said and smiled at Elise.

  “Uh, same here,” said Elise quietly, returning a polite smile at Tracy.

  “Elise has never tried your burgers before, Trace,” Kevin said, teasingly, “so we’re gonna have two bacon cheeseburger meals.” He handed the menus to Tracy.

  “Sure thing,” said Tracy, as she took their menus and left the table.

  Kevin leaned in for a moment and whispered, “She used to bang one of my buddies.”

  He nodded towards Tracy as she walked back towards the diner counter.

  “Oh my!” said Elise, her eyes widened in shock. She might be shy and naïve but she knew what “banging” meant. She giggled a little in spite of herself.

  “You know, for a bookworm, you have a really sexy laugh,” said Kevin, looking right into her eyes.

  Elise felt herself blushing again. She had never been out with a guy anything like Kevin. Back in high school in her hometown, she had attended an all-girls Catholic school. Her parents had always stressed to her about focusing on her education and never undermining her Catholic values. The only boy she had ever gone out with was a boy from her parent’s church. His name had been Samuel Harding, and his father and her father were work friends. He would come over to study or eat dinner with her and her parents from time to time. Her dad had only allowed them to go on an unsupervised date once, and that one date had been to Sam’s graduation dinner.

  Elise had not been attracted to Samuel as more than just a platonic friend. He had kissed her at the end of their date, but it had been an awkward kiss, just outside her front door. It had only been a peck on the lips, but Elise remembered not feeling much of anything from it. It had felt more like kissing a brother than kissing a guy who you’d been dating over the past few months. She hadn’t talked to Samuel since he’d left for college last year.

  Now, here she was having dinner with a dark-haired, leather jacket-wearing, motorcycle-riding, cigarette-smoking bad boy. Her parents had always warned her about guys like him. Her father referred to them as “Godless Heathens.” Her mother had warned that they liked to prey on innocent young girls and get them hooked on alcohol, drugs and turn them into young, unwed mothers of bastard children. Then, after they’d ruined your life, they would move on to another young, unassuming victim.

  Elise was looking at Kevin, sitting across from her in the diner and her mind was starting to wander. She started thinking about his thick, black shiny hair and how it might feel to run her fingers through it. She thought about his dark, sexy eyes and how she wanted to melt every time she looked into them. Every now and then she would catch Kevin looking at her chest through her blouse, or stealing a glance at her legs. She couldn’t help but feel flattered that he was checking her out. Samuel had never looked at her that way, and even if he would have, he never excited Elise the way Kevin did.

  Kevin held the door open for Elise as they walked out of the diner.

  “So, uh, lemme ask you something, Lovely,” said Kevin, again, more of a statement than a question.

  He pulled the front door of the diner closed behind them. They were standing out in front of the diner. Elise looked at Kevin and nodded.

  “Why didn’t you want me to pick you up tonight?” he inquired, looking at her intently.

  Elise lowered her head at the question, and then looked at him to reply.

  “I…uh…I have a really nosy roommate, and she and I don’t exactly get along that well,” Elise replied.

  “I see,” said Kevin, “Well, I don’t care about your nosey little roomie. A real man sees a lady home safe, especially at night,” he said and reached out his hand to take hers.

  Elise placed her hand in his and they began to walk toward her dormitory together.

  “You have such soft, smooth hands,” said Kevin, as they walked hand in hand down the busy campus street.

  He rubbed his hands over hers as he said it, and the feel of his touch on her skin sent chills down the base of her spine.

  “Thanks,” she mumbled, feeling herself blushing again.

  Elise really didn’t want the evening to end, but she knew her mother would be waiting for her phone call
. She knew her mother was already suspicious and she didn’t want to upset her parents. Kevin didn’t seem to be the kind of guy who would do those horrible things to an innocent young girl, but then, how would she know? She had never even had a real boyfriend before? She shook her thoughts from her mind so she could enjoy the few moments she had left with Kevin.

  “You’re not really used to guys giving you compliments, huh?” asked Kevin.

  “No, I…uh…I guess not. I went to an all-girls Catholic school, so I, uh…I’m not really used to talking to guys,” Elise replied.

  As they approached Elise’s dorm, Kevin stopped, took Elise’s other hand in his, and turned in to face her.

  Elise felt like she was in a scene from a movie. She was finding it hard to look in his face because he was staring directly into hers with a sultry look in his eyes.

  “Why did you ask me out tonight?” Elise asked him, wondering what it was that he saw in her.

  “I’ve wanted to ask you out now for a while,” said Kevin, “there’s something different about you, Lovely, something special.”

  He gently took Elise’s face into both of his hands and looked deep into her eyes.

  “Your eyes are so beautiful,” he whispered softly, leaning his face in closer to hers.

  Elise knew he was going to kiss her, and she was both turned on and terrified at the same time. She wanted his kiss, wanted to feel his lips pressed against hers, but she was also afraid, afraid because she’d never kissed anyone besides Samuel, and it hadn’t actually been a real kiss…

  The feel of Kevin lips on hers snapped her out of her thoughts and brought her back into the moment. She closed her eyes and let herself be kissed. His lips were soft and warm, and the sensation sent another rush of chills down her spine. He moaned softly and his lips parted. She felt his tongue enter her mouth, and she quickly pulled away from him.

  Kevin opened his eyes and looked at her in surprise. Elise lowered her head in embarrassment.

  “I’m sorry,” said Kevin, “too much, too soon, huh?”

  Elise just kept her head down, not knowing what to say. She was feeling a strong mixture of emotions and she found herself utterly speechless.