by Debbie Zello
“Your parents named you appropriately, you are understanding. And it does matter, at least to me. So Mr. Franklyn, I’m glad that you want to court me.”
Bree cleaned our table. Trigger moved his chair right next to me and draped his arm over the back of my chair. We watched as the musicians set up their instruments and checked their mics. It was beginning to get very loud as more and more people shuffled in for the live music. I was glad we had gotten there early and had a nice table.
They began playing a slow Irish folk song. Trigger stood up and took my hand leading me out to the dance floor. We were the only ones on the dance floor, and I was nervous. He placed my arm around his waist under his jacket, then his hand on the nape of my neck. He positioned my right hand on his chest directly above his heart, with his hand over mine. I was staring at my feet and his.
“Don’t look at your feet. Look in my eyes. They’ll tell you where we’re going. Feel my heart beat and use it for your rhythm. When you’re comfortable move into my arms,” he whispered to me.
We swayed a few times and then he moved me around the dance floor as if we had been dancing together all our lives. By the time, we had made one revolution around the floor I was in his arms. He smelled so good I was breathing him in. I wanted to rest my cheek against his chest and snuggle but I kept my eyes on his as he said to do. What I saw there was both romantic and frightening. Clearly, he liked me and his desire was there too.
Magnetism…that’s what he had. A primal, animal attraction, missing from most other men. I felt the pull from the first meeting with the deeply seductive deep tone of his voice to the swagger of his walk. He was the personification of every book-boyfriend in every book I’ve read. Only this one was real.
When the song ended, he kissed me with a sweet, soft, gentle peck that said ‘thank you for the dance.’ “You dance beautifully, Neomi. You’re quite graceful,” he spoke softly in my ear.
“No one has ever said that before. Maybe it’s the wine,” I said giggling.
“No. It’s your body. You’re willowy as well as dazzling. Every man in here wishes he were me right now,” he said holding my shoulders.
“Slightly overstated, Mr. Franklyn, but very sweet even so.”
I fell asleep on the ride back. It was a little after two in the morning when he woke me. “Hey, beautiful. We’re back. Do you need me to carry you in?”
“No, thank you, I can walk. I’m not usually up this late. Sorry I fell asleep on you.”
“Not a problem, I’m not offended. I know you’re an early-riser. I shouldn’t have kept you up this late,” he said apologizing.
“I had a wonderful time. It was well worth the late arrival. Thank you.”
“Does that mean you’ll see me again?” he asked.
“Yes, it does,” I said trying to keep my eyes open. He walked me to the door of the building. He wove his fingers through my hair angling my head to mate with his lips. This time his tongue pressed my lips until I opened to him. He held me so tightly, which was a good thing because I felt light-headed.
“You had better go in before I don’t let you go,” he said opening the door and pushing me through. “Good night, Firelight. Thank you for the dancing. If it’s warm next Saturday, I’ll take you for a slow ride.” I watched him walk back down the sidewalk before closing the door and leaning against it.
Crystal was lying on the couch asleep, when I walked in. I bent over her and touched her arm. “Crystal, wake up and go to bed.”
“I was waiting for you to get home. How was your date?” she said rubbing her eyes.
“Fun! We went to the casino for dinner and dancing.”
“Wow! He’s a big spender,” she said sitting up straight.
“I like him. He’s sweet and understanding,” I said with a smirk. “Thanks for waiting up for me, but I’m exhausted. We’ll talk more in the morning. I have to get some sleep.”
“Okay. See you in the morning.”
Chapter Twenty-One
I slept late Sunday, which was a real treat for me. With five weeks left of classes and then finals I needed all the rest I could get. My work hours didn’t allow for late night studying, so I crammed all I could into my daytime. Sleeping late was rarely an option.
It was Wednesday before I caught up with Crystal. I told her all about my date with Understanding. Everything except for his unusual name that was so similar to mine. Having that in common delighted me. Like a secret, I could keep for the both of us.
Thursday morning, I left work for my usual walk to class. I was listening to one of my books on tape when the red Harley pulled up in front of me a few parking spaces away. It was the first time I got a good look at the back of his jacket. In bold red letters it read, ‘Hells Gate Keeper.’
Smiling widely, I walked up to Trigger. “Good morning gate keeper.”
“You like that, don’t you? A little intrigue early in the morning. You look beautiful today…every day,” he said, sliding his leg over the seat to stand.
“And you are charming today…every day. Thank you,” I parroted his sentiment.
“Are you having a good week so far?”
“I am, how about yours?”
“It’s improved tenfold just now. I was hoping that you might give me your number. I’d like to be able to talk to you during the week for a few minutes,” he said, taking out his wallet and searching through it. “Here’s my card with all of my numbers on it.” I took the card. It was cleverly worded. “We are very Understanding and you Matter to us.” I scribbled my number on a scrap of paper and handed it to him.
“I’m not much of a conversationalist on the phone. I didn’t have a phone until I left home for college. I wasn’t raised with one in my ear all day,” I said.
“That’s not a big surprise. I have a feeling we were raised very similarly. Be kind to the Earth and its inhabitants, right?”
“Right! I have to get going,” I said, pointing down the sidewalk.
“Are we still on for Saturday? It’s going to be warm and sunny. A perfect day for a short ride.”
“Okay. Can I meet the other gate keepers?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. They’re crude, rude and always in the mood. They’re a lot to take in, especially in numbers,” he said frowning.
“I would like to meet your friends. I don’t have a problem with bikers. I find them interesting.”
“We’ll see on Saturday. I’ll pick you up around eleven. Is that good for you?”
“Yes. It will give me some time to do homework before we leave. See you then,” I said waving as I walked.
“Bye, Firelight. Have a good day!” he called after me.
Saturday morning, I was waiting again for Trigger in the TV room. I love to listen to the conversations about what everyone did on Friday night. Most of my dorm mates spent Fridays in the bars trying to forget the week. I spent Friday nights in my room trying to remember the week so I could study what I learned during it. Different strokes for different folks, as my mom used to say.
I heard the deep reverberation of his voice behind me saying, “Thanks, I see her.” I turned toward the pleasant sound and there he was. He had his leathers on and he looked edgy in them.
“Everything okay? You look anxious.”
“You want to meet the clubbers and that has me on edge. I’m worried they’ll taint your opinion of me. You are familiar with the phrase ‘guilty by association?’ I don’t want to be painted with the same brush as them. Don’t get me wrong, we would defend each other to the death. They’re all like brothers to me. But they have an ‘I don’t give a shit attitude,’” he explained.
“You think I can’t handle them? I might surprise you,” I said, walking towards his bike.
“When we get there, stay with me and don’t wander off alone. A woman alone becomes fair game. You’re mine and I don’t share what’s mine. It’s not possession, Neomi, it’s survival. Are you sure you want to go?” he said with his fingers o
n my cheek.
“I want to go,” I said holding his hand on my cheek. His sharp intake of air told me he was resigned to taking me.
He nodded a few times and then swung his leg over the seat. He righted the bike and said, “Get on and hold tight.” I got on behind him and snaked my arms around his waist. The sissy bar that used to be on the bike had been removed, so I clung to him tightly. He patted my hands first and then my leg as I straddled him. I got a good whiff of the leather jacket and whatever cologne he wore. It was something musky and incredibly delicious.
He started the bike and it was loud enough to wake the dead. I love the sound of Harleys. It’s like no other bike made.
He was right about the weather. It was a sunny, warm day, perfect for a ride. New Haven is a very old New England town, settled in the 1600s just a few years after the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts. It has hundreds of tree-lined streets, unfortunately many of which are one-way.
It took us about twenty minutes to get to his club. We rode down a long driveway to a brick building with a sign that read ‘HGK.’ It looked much like the Skull and Bones frat house at Yale except for the huge six-car garage behind it. I wondered if that was what these guys were…overgrown frat-boys at heart.
He pulled the bike up next to several others parked in front of the building. He put out the kickstand and I got off allowing him to swing his leg over the seat. He turned towards me and pulled me into his arms. “Having you behind me is torture, Neomi. I want to hold you,” he said kissing me sweetly.
“You’re the one that wanted to go for a ride, remember?”
“And I still do. This is just a quick stop to cure your curiosity. We’re not staying long, okay?”
“Why are you so nervous? Do I embarrass you?”
“God no! They’re going to want you. We have women that hang around here, all the time. Some of them think they are the girlfriends of one of the members. The members don’t usually bring their real girlfriends or wives here. That’s why I don’t want you to wonder off,” he explained.
I could see the seriousness in his eyes. I smiled. “I’ll hold your hand the whole time. How’s that?”
“That will be fine. Let’s get this over with,” he said walking towards the door. He opened the door and we walked into a large room with a TV and several couches and chairs. There were some ten or so doors on each side of the room all closed and all with different names on them. I spotted the one that read ‘Trigger.’
Behind the furniture was a kitchen with a large table surrounded with roughly fifteen chairs. Three men were at the table eating. “Trigger! Where the hell have you been?” the largest of the men said.
“Around. Busy,” Trigger, responded.
“Looks like you’ve been chasing a kitty. Does she purr or scratch?” the blonde with a long beard said.
“Both, so mind your manners, Snake. This is Neomi. Neomi, this is Snake, Ray and Geronimo,” Trigger said, pointing to each as he said their names.
“You’re a pretty one, Neomi. Is she for the club?” Geronimo said, glaring at me.
“Absolutely not! She’s mine…alone. She wanted to see the club and meet you assholes. I have no idea why, but she did.”
“She’s probably tired of your little dick and wanted to have a real man,” Snake said, grinning at me.
“You’re wrong about that Snake. Trigger is more than capable of keeping any woman happy. In fact, I’m sure of it seeing what you might have to offer,” I said, glaring back at him. I looked up at Trigger and he smiled.
“Have you seen enough?” he said pulling me close.
“I’ve seen enough, thank you.” We turned and walked out without saying a word of good-bye. We got to his bike before he turned to me and kissed me hard. “You were right again,” I said, breathless from the kiss.
“If you saw them on the street, they wouldn’t be such Neanderthals. But something about being here and they think they have the right to treat women as objects for their pleasure. Unfortunately, in the past I was guilty of that, too,” he said, with a sad look on his face. He got on his bike and I slid in behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. He grabbed my legs and drew me closer.
I wanted to tell him about how I felt in the month of April. That I allowed myself to make foolish decisions then. That going to his club was one of those decisions and not to feel badly about it. Anything that happens in April is forgivable as well as forgettable. But I didn’t.
We went for a long ride through the back streets and alleyways of New Haven and its suburbs. He took me up East Rock and we looked out over the city. He kissed me there and it was the first time his hand slid on to my butt. He squeezed me and kept me tightly against him. I realized then that this wasn’t going to be casual dating. Much like Royce, it would be a relationship. I was going to fall in love with him. That worried me because I didn’t have a very good track record with love.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Over the next few weeks, I saw Trigger at work at least two times every week. We went to dinner or the movies on the weekends. I had several papers to complete and various exams to study for, so it wasn’t as much time as we wanted to spend with each other. At last, by the second week of May, I was finished with my finals and free, except for work.
I moved my clothes and personal items into my summer sub-let and settled into my off-school schedule. I worked more hours at the coffee shop and I had more time to spend with Trigger.
We were watching a war movie, sitting on my couch. His arm was across my chest holding me close to his. He kissed the top of my head repeatedly. “You said you got your nickname because you were in the service. I’ve heard of G. I. Joe and Jar-head but why Trigger?”
“I’m a dead shot. I have never missed, at least not yet. If I want to shoot you in the head, that’s where you’ll get it,” he said calmly. He wasn’t bragging, just stating fact.
“Have you ever shot someone?”
“Yes,” he said sadly.
“On purpose? To kill them?” I asked sitting up to look right in his eyes.
“Yes. I was a sharpshooter, Neomi. My job was to kill people. I was very good at my job. Does that change things?” he said visibly steeling himself, waiting for my answer. Now much of his façade made sense to me. He had a power around him. An animal hunger that permeated his being.
“No, because I’m not afraid of you. I know that you would never hurt me, intentionally,” I said pulling him to my lips for a kiss. He deepened the kiss floating his lips over mine, making me shudder in his arms.
“I don’t know what you’re doing to me. I’ve never felt this much passion for anyone before, Firelight. I want to take care of you. I want to be with you. It’s potent magic that you weave over me.”
“I don’t know any magic. But I feel things for you, too. Feelings I haven’t felt in a long time. I think I’m falling in love with you,” I said holding his face between my hands. I wanted to make sure I was looking directly in his eyes when I said this. His smile widened.
“You are one amazing woman. I can’t believe you’re taking me on.” He moved his hands to hold my face. “I’m in love with you. I have been for a while. The thought that you might love me too makes me very happy.”
We held each other until the end of the movie. My stomach growled loudly. I got up saying, “I’ll make us some dinner before we starve to death.”
“We can order something if you want,” he offered.
“No, I want to cook for you tonight. I bought some chicken and I thought I would bake it with potatoes.”
“Sounds great! What can I do to help?”
“You can wash the potatoes, how’s that?” I said walking to the kitchen. He followed me in and went to the sink. I took out the two russet potatoes I had in the fridge and handed them to him. I had washed the chicken and breaded it this morning so all I had to do was plop it in the oven and turn it on.
I walked up behind him and lifted his shirt so I could feel his skin. He w
as so warm and I could feel the ripples of his abs under my fingers. “Do you have any tats?” I asked.
“Two, do you want to see them?” he said, drying his hands.
“Yes, I do. I have a thing for men with tats. Not if they’re covered in them but I like a few on your skin,” I confessed. I watched him as he took his shirt off and threw it on the chair where his leather jacket was. His chest, shoulders, and abs were sharply defined. His body a finely sculpted machine that was splendid to look at. There was a bear paw with sharp looking claws on his right pectoral. Above it in script lettering it read ‘Trigger.’ “Nice.” I said.
“It’s the symbol from my unit. Most of us got one, it’s an Army thing.”
“I like it, it’s a man thing. Where’s the other one?” I said curious.
“I’ll have to take my pants off if you want to see that one,” he said staring at me. I swallowed hard and he smiled. “Too much?” he asked.
“I want you to make love to me,” I whispered.
“Are you sure about that? That moves everything forward in a huge leap. Once I see you naked, I won’t be able to go back. Once you’re under me, that’s where I’ll want you to stay,” he responded, touching my cheek.
“I’m sure,” I said taking his hand and walking to the bedroom.
Trigger sat in the chair next to the bed and began quickly removing his boots. He tossed them one-by-one into the corner, with a loud thump. This wasn’t the slow-strip-tease that I had imagined in all of my seduction dreams. It was more like the husband that comes home late from work and takes his clothes off for the purpose of going to bed. Like it’s his last chore of the day. Nothing sexy about it. But yet still, I was staring.
His socks joined his boots and then he stood. His belt jingled as he moved the leather through the metal buckle. He was talking, saying something, but his voice was so far away the words didn’t register with me. My ogling was so intent, everything else fell away.
