The Eternity that Follows

by Diane Marie

  Joey was standing just a few feet away from the entrance in the living room. He noticed Gabriella wasn’t only with her cousin, knowing her face from Gabriella’s pictures on facebook, but also with a boy. He guessed the boy to be her cousin’s boyfriend. Joey was relaxed when he walked over to Gabriella, facing directly toward her, and stopping to stand two feet away. When their eyes met, he placed his hand on Gabriella’s hip, and felt comfortable with her already. Gabriella moved a foot closer.

  “Joey, right?” Gabriella asked, cutely as Joey nodded his head. “Gabriella?” Joey asked, questionably raising one eyebrow, making it seem he was unsure. And at the time he was unsure, he was meeting his dream girl for the first time.

  “That’s me.”

  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

  Becky and Charlie were standing right behind Gabriella. Gabriella turned to face them as Joey’s hand didn’t leave Gabriella’s body. His hand moved above her tail bone, along the curve of the small of her back as she turned sideways, he followed with her. Becky and Charlie counteracted their position, and stood opposite of them.

  “This is my cousin Becky, and her boyfriend Charlie.”

  Joey took Becky’s hand as any gentleman would, and then gave Charlie a handshake.

  “Hey guys, I’m Joey.” He said with a smile.

  “Well Hello” Becky said.

  “Hey man it’s nice to meet you.” Charlie said.

  Gabriella hadn’t been happier in her entire life while feeling Joey’s hand on her back. She was pleased with how they had introduced themselves. Joey himself couldn’t believe how naturally he had acted, and how naturally she had responded back. If he had to be the one to speak first, he wouldn’t have known what to say. He would have fumbled his words trying to get out, ‘I’m Joey.’ as he couldn’t believe how pretty she was. But he was comfortable with her, and found that so far around her, he was able to be himself.

  “Come on I’ll get you all a drink.” Joey said, grabbing Gabriella’s hand, and starting to walk her through the living room he then shrugged, ‘come on’ for her guests to follow.

  Joey started walking them right through the living room, and as soon as they began to walk, Gabriella turned around to Becky who was right behind her, and mouthed, ‘oh my god,’ as she was so happy to be holding hands with Joey. They didn’t have a hard time making their way through the crowd. There was a fair amount of guests in the kitchen, Gabriella noticed as she first walked in, and only a few in the living room. Joey led them to the recreation room whose entrance was in the far right corner of the living room. Gabriella kept to Joey’s hand as he led them over to the wet bar inside the recreation room.

  Joey didn’t want to let go of Gabriella’s hand, just yet when they reached their destination. Josh and Anna were behind the counter of the wet bar. Joey introduced Gabriella to Josh and Anna, but he wasn’t going to be introducing her to everyone all night. It was a party and people mingled and introduced themselves all on their own. Which he hoped Gabriella wouldn’t be doing, but he at least wanted her to get acquainted with his closest friends.

  “Josh, Anna, this is Gabriella.” Joey said, causing Gabriella to smile politely to both Josh and Anna.

  Joey let go of Gabriella’s hand, and she felt a bit of disappointment. Joey then used his hand to finish the introduction, he pointed with his palm to the side “And this is her cousin Becky and her boyfriend?” Joey looked at Gabriella questionably, to make sure he got it right. “Charlie” Joey said, after Gabriella nodded that’s correct.

  Josh wasn’t much for introductions. Being a lot like Joey, he wasn’t much for small talk either. He didn’t want to bother with the acquaintanceship of nice to meet you, and so on, so he simply said,

  “what can we get you?”

  “I’ll just take a beer. What do you want Becky?” Charlie said. “I don’t know what kind of alcohol do you have?” Becky asked. “Oh I make a wicked red devil. Do you ladies want to try them?” Anna asked.

  “I’ll take one, I love red devils.” Gabriella said. “Okay me too” Becky said, never before trying one.

  “I’ll take a beer too.” Joey said, putting down his empty bottle of beer. He couldn’t believe Gabriella was here, next time him by his side.

  As Anna was making Gabriella’s drink, Joey looked at her and said,

  “I’m glad you came.”

  “I bet you are” Gabriella said, and then she winked at him.

  Joey smiled at her, and when he did so, Gabriella couldn’t avoid smiling back. Joey's eyes lit up, and then Gabriella's eyes lit up too. It was just like the moment they had shared the night at Mackenzie’s, but Joey wasn’t going to let her turn away. He took her hand, held it in his open palm, and gave her a sweet kiss. Gabriella blushed, and naturally graced her fingers through his hair, not wanting to mess it up. They looked at each other one more time before Joey grabbed the beer handed to him, and walked just a few feet away.

  Gabriella and Becky recieved their drinks as Charlie already had his, and then Gabriella walked over to where Joey was standing. She wanted to grab his hand, but she hardly could discover the courage to. Instead she, playful bumped his side with her hip. Joey laughed at Gabriella’s gesture, while his friends he went over to talk to walked away. Gabriella noticed, Charlie and Becky hadn’t followed, but rather went to enjoy the party. She was standing all alone with Joey, and had not a clue what to do. “Soo?” She said.

  “Soo?” Joey replied.

  “I don’t know. I just met you. I know nothing about you.” “There’s not much to know.”

  “We’ll then I guess there’s no point in getting to know you.” “Hey that’s not fair.” Joey said, causing Gabriella to laugh. Joey realized he was being difficult, and decided to offer her more. “Well, I’m just an average guy, liking a not so average girl, and I’m standing her wondering what to do.”

  “You got the girl at the party didn’t you?” Gabriella said, knowing she had put him on the spot. She could tell he was shy, and not one for small talk. She too wasn't interested in small talk, but she didn’t want to know everything about him right away either. She wanted to take the time getting to know him, but the truth was, she simply wanted to kiss him.

  “I guess I did” Joey laughed to himself, but he soon realized he wasn’t laughing alone. “You have cute giggle.”

  “Thank you. Why haven’t I seen you around Mandala before?” “I haven’t been out to Mandala in awhile. That Josh over there had just broken up with that Anna and needed a wing man. I felt bad and couldn’t say no.” Joey said, while Gabriella adored the way he spoke his words.

  “They don’t look too broken up to me.”

  “Yeah they got into some stupid fight. I told him to just apologize but he was being difficult.”

  “Oh I see.”

  “Yeah. So what about you? Are you out in Mandala a lot?” “Yeah I am.”

  “How come?”

  “I don’t know. I just can’t seem to get my friends to go to any other town.”

  “Maybe you need new friends.”

  “You know what? My sister said the same thing just the other day.” Gabriella said, while Joey let out a light laugh.

  “Ah I’m sure there all right”

  “I don’t know. I’m not with them now.”

  “No, you’re not”

  Joey caught onto Gabriella’s subtleness and pulled her body toward his as he went to kiss her softly on the lips. Gabrielle responded to his kiss, pressing her lips gently on his for a brief second then parting her mouth slightly, turning her head toward the right. Joey leaned his head toward the right as well, and his mouth naturally opened. Gabriella gently slid her tongue into his mouth as his did the same. They kissed for a few moments, and then Joey ended the kiss with a sweet, soft smack on the lips just as Gabriella lips were closing, pressing back gently for the end of the smack. When the kiss was finished, they looked into each others eyes, and felt a close, intimate connection. The kiss t
hey shared was like no other for either of them. The feelings behind them were already too deep.

  Joey grabbed Gabriella’s hand. He wanted to walk her to Gavin’s spare bedroom, but thought about it for a moment. He thought about her vow of celibacy, his past vows of celibacy, and decided against it. If he was to make love to her tonight, it would be in his own bed or even in hers. He hadn’t allowed her to feel his erection when they kissed, though he wanted to pull her closer, and show her what he had to offer, what he was feeling. He had enjoyed the kiss so much, he wanted to explore more of her before he made love to her. He felt in his heart to make sure things went perfect between them, not only for her own dreams, but for his as well. He slowly led her out of the recreation room, through the living room, and out the front door.

  Gabriella wasn’t sure where they were going, and she didn’t care. She was happy to be with Joey. The kiss they had just shared had been so magical between them, she wasn’t sure what was becoming of her.

  Joey led her outside to his mustang.

  “God I can’t believe how hot you are.” Joey said, in a loud frustrated tone, letting go of her hand and, gently slamming her into his car.

  “Umm. I’m sorry” Gabriella said, remembering what she was wearing and how her hair was done.

  “Well it’s not your fault. I blame your parents. They made you. When do I get to meet them?” Joey asked, seriously. Gabriella knew he was being serious but played it as a joke.

  “When you’re ready to ask to marry me.” She said, bold and honest about what she wanted in a man.

  Joey was puzzled. He’d drive over to her house right now, and ask her daddy to marry him, if she had been serious. He wasn’t into playing games. “Oh come on now” Gabriella continued with a more serious tone. “Is this your car?”

  “Yeah it’s mine.”

  “Can I drive it?”

  Joey was stumped. This girl was everything he ever wanted, and now she was asking to drive his car, he couldn’t say no.

  “Sure if you want.” He said, holding onto the want as if there was a trade involved.

  “Oh yeah? And what do I got to do for it?”

  “Marry me.”

  Gabriella just laughed.

  “Well can you at least take me for a ride in it?”

  Joey lowered his head down. He was being serious in his proposal, and felt shot down. Gabriella, still leaning against his car Joey had thrown her against, grabbed his chin and lifted it up. Joey set up for a kiss, pressing his hands against the car, in line at the sides of her neck. He leaned his lower body forward toward her, not yet touching his bottom half against her. Gabriella stayed leaning on the car as he moved his upper body close to hers, kissing her lips softly with his. Joey went in for the kill, moving his tongue against hers like the ocean coming and going with passion and desire. Gabriella responded returning the same passion, with the same wave.

  They stayed there kissing in the same motion for five minutes, pressing their lips sweetly against each other in the moments in-between, while their tongues were kissing with passion. Joey finally released his hands from their firm press on the car. He then wrapped them around the lower part of Gabriella’s back, pushing himself into her so she could feel his full erection. Gabriella responded by pushing away from the car slightly, away from him gently, and then jumping into his arms, wrapping her legs around his hips. He held her for a few minutes, slowing down the kiss as their tongues slid against one another. He lowered her to the ground, she propped herself up with her hands, and got into a steady position before she lowered her bottom half down for Joey to come between her. She then wrapped her hands around his neck as Joey positioned himself between her legs. They stayed there, making love with their clothes on, and neither of them cared to take them off.

  Joey felt awkward for a moment, realizing he had started moving his body in and out of her open legs. Comprehending they both had clothes on, he gave her one final passionate kiss, sealed with a long hard smack. He then helped her up off the ground. Once they were both standing, he looked into her eyes and felt comfortable again. Joey then become aware, he hadn’t even gotten to second base. He looked at her breast through her shirt, noticing her cleavage through the rips in her shirt. Though she had on a slightly padded bra, he knew where her nipples were. He pinched her left nipple with his right thumb, and left pointer finger through her shirt and her bra, claming, ‘that’s mine.' Gabriella was surprisingly turned on by the nature Joey used to touch her chest. When they were making out on the ground, she was so into the passion of kissing, she hadn’t noticed he hadn’t even cupped her breasts. Instead, his hands stayed on her back, gently moving up and down, at times with sheer, romantic passion. When Joey had stood them up, and he looked into her eyes, she gazed back alluringly. When he checked out her breasts, she giggled a little, but the way he had just pinched her nipple was so aggressive, so loving, so possessive. Gabriella was never more turned on in her life.

  Joey wanted to see Gabriella naked, Joey wanted to get Gabriella naked, Joey wanted to see Gabriella naked, was all he thought as he walked her back into Gavin’s house. The thought of the word naked mixed with the word Gabriella gave him a strong feeling filled with desire. When they reached the inside of Gavin’s door, Joey gave Gabriella a quick kiss on the lips, leaned into her ear and said simply,

  “I’ll be right back.” He then held her for a moment waiting for a reply. He was attached, and he didn’t want to just leave her awkwardly.

  “Okay. I’ll find Becky and Charlie.” Gabriella said, smitten by his hold.

  “Don’t go to far.” Joey warned as she walked away.

  Joey stood at the front door watching as Gabriella make her way through the living room. He stood there, making sure she didn’t run into trouble with the group of single friends from his football team who was gathered in there. She got checked out by the whole bunch as he himself couldn’t believe how sexy she looked from behind. Once she got to the recreation room doorway, he went outside.

  Gabriella didn’t feel bad for leaving Becky and Charlie alone considering they had each other to keep company. When she made her way back into the recreation room, they were playing a game of pool with Anna and Josh. Gabriella wasn’t in the mood for socializing. She would have rathered to have sat down on the couch to think, but her situation didn’t allow her to. She made small talk as she wondered what was keeping Joey, she couldn’t wait for him to get back to her.

  Joey had gone outside in the hopes of smashing something up. Instead he threw his fist at the brick foundation of the house, and was now bleeding. He was mad at himself for his sexual past. He wanted to sit Gabriella down, and explain his whole life story. He wanted her to know everything there was to know about him, but he couldn’t get his mind off seeing her naked, having her naked. He wanted her, and he wanted her tonight.

  Joey was so frustrated when thinking about his twenty first year, and the twenty something girls he racked onto his list. He wanted to make love, and baldy, but he couldn’t help feel the guilt. Although Gabriella showed her experienced side as they expressed their passion for each other, he couldn’t help but feel she was too innocent to sleep with on the first night. He collected himself together, sucked on his bloody knuckles, and returned inside.

  Gabriella had enough of small talk, and asked where the bathroom was. She then went into the bathroom to touched up her make-up, noticing her hair wasn’t even messed up from her make out session with Joey outside. Her head never even touched the grown, and his hands never left her back.

  Gabriella was just coming out of the bathroom when she ran into Joey in the kitchen. Joey was headed into the bathroom himself to wash out his bloody knuckles. The kitchen was emptier then it was before.

  “Hey” Joey said, as his heart rate settled down.

  “Hi” Gabriella’s said, as her heart skipped a beat. Gabriella noticed his hand, and how he was sucking on the blood to keep it from dripping down his hand. “What did you do?” She asked w
ith concern, fearing he was left unsatisfied with their make out session, and in frustration punched something.

  “You want to get out of here?”

  “I don’t know my cousin’s boyfriends drunk, and he’s her ride. I can’t really leave her”

  “I’ll take care of it, don’t worry.” Was all Joey said.

  Joey then walked over to the kitchen sink to wash his hand, grabbed a paper towel, and patted down his knuckles. He then opened a cabinet to where he knew there were band-aids, and stitched himself up. He gave Gabriella a simple kiss on the cheek, and then was off out of the kitchen. He went to talk briefly to Charlie, and then headed upstairs to Gavin's room, who he knew was upstairs watching a movie with Sadie. Gavin wasn’t mad Joey wanted to leave with Gabriella, leaving him to care for the guests at the party. He also wasn’t mad Becky and Charlie would be spending the night as Joey handed him Charlie’s keys.

  Joey assured Gabriella, her cousin and Charlie would get home safely, and she trusted him. They then left the party early around midnight. Gabriella was so excited to leave with Joey, in the hype of it all, she forgot to say goodbye Becky and Charlie. Joey joked with Gabriella as they were walking toward the car. “You still wanna drive sweetie.”

  “No. That’s okay, another time”

  “Oh, well I’d let you baby.” Joey said, wanting Gabriella to know they were a couple now.

  “Baby?”

  “You don’t like being called baby, baby?” Joey said, then holding her for a brief moment.

  “Joey you can call me anything you like”

  Joey opened the passenger side door for Gabriella. He hadn’t purposely parked on the lawn to make sure he wouldn’t get blocked in for this exact reason, but he was glad he had. It was his spot anyway, being he was at Gavin’s house so often. As Joey opened the door, he gently placed his hand in between Gabriella‘s private spot to claim his territory. Gabriella didn’t mind, now considered her body to be Joey’s. She turned his head toward her, and kissed him, then stroked him through his baggy pants, and Joey grew harder. The kiss they were involved in was hot and heavy, Joey could tell she had the same sexual desire for him, he had for her. Joey was so turned on by kissing, and the way he was being touched, he had to push her off of him while they were still kissing. He ordered her to relax, pushing her gently away. Gabriella wasn’t offended he had ordered her to relax, getting comfortable in the passenger’s seat. Joey couldn’t help but sped all the five minutes he lived from Gavin‘s. Gabriella had just touched him, and wasn’t about to control himself with her.