The door closed. Nathan wiped his mouth.
“That was pretty awkward,” Lilly said rocking back and forth.
“Yeah, nice . . . but yeah,” he said causing both of them to laugh. “You ready?”
“Yeah, one hundred percent,” Lily said then suddenly realized she wasn’t. “Wait,” she shouted holding her hands up in a stop and don’t move position. Nathan stopped and became even more still than he was.
“What’s wrong?” he whispered looking around.
“I just have to do something,” Lily said with her hands still extend.
He agreed that was enough. “Be waiting right here.”
“I’ll be right back,” she said and ran in baby steps so she wouldn’t work up a sweat.
Nathan laughed to himself as he waited for Lily to return. He just thought about how lucky he was moving back to Chicago when he did. He met Ms. Johnson who he adored, Todd and Martin were great and he seemed to like a lot of their friends as well. The people he kept bumping into at Sips over and over and even though the older ones liked to tell stories (some of which started to already repeat themselves) he enjoyed spending time with them. He loved how close his family was even though each day that went by was another day he would be reminded of not going out to see his Mother and Father. He really had to do that and soon he thought shaking his head. He loved how his store had come together minus the clean-up and repairs caused by Maggie. Then there was Lily, the most charming beautiful creature he had ever laid his eyes on.
Walking out of her bedroom she seemed to float towards him. She was glad he kissed her. It made her feel very sexy and confident. As Nathan watched Lily walk it radiated from her.
Nathan still could not believe how amazing she looked. He smiled. “Are we ready now?” he asked not being able to hide the fact he was examining her every sway.
“I think so,” she said widening her eyes surprised by her courage. Stopping just short of pressing into him Lily could see his gaze and feel his breath as it ignited her groins like a furnace.
“Go ahead,” Nathan invited holding out his hand. Receiving hers he gently grasped them and drew her into him.
Standing for what seemed to be a very long time became overwhelming. “Well?” she cried. Then she felt his warm moist lips barely touching hers. But it was enough that she could taste him and it made her feel lightheaded. His fingers whispered down her cheek sending shivers up her spine. Not a breeze escaped his mouth but Lily could not show the same discipline. Her breath was heavy causing her chest to heave fully, revealing the roundness of her breasts. His free hand found its way to the small of her back again and gently brought her towards him causing their lips to beg to be melted together. Pressing her breasts against his chest Lily could actually hear his heart beating to the same rhythm as her own. Not letting a whisper escape his mouth he disciplined his lips just moments from hers, hinting at remerging, but every time she pressed forward it sent him reeling slightly away, driving her crazy. Running two fingers slowly down her cheek to her chin he gently pressed down to let her bottom lip open slightly, and then let his lip rest on top.
Finally, she thought. Letting her thoughts release into the wild she welcomed the pressures from his lips as they penetrated over the threshold of hers.
Leaning back slightly allowing him the ability to talk whilst still biting gingerly on her bottom lip he whispered, “We should get going.” Then he kissed her again.
Tilting her forehead forward slightly and separating their lips she felt it was her turn to try. “Right,” she said running her hand up his back. Then running the other past the nape of his neck and into his hair she pushed him back into her mouth.
Obliging her for a moment he pulled back again. This time disconnecting their lips completely while holding her cheeks in the palm of his hands and staring into her eyes. “Reservations,” he whispered roughly, but her eyes were too powerful and her lips too soft to resist. Drawing her lips toward him he kissed her harder and let her tongue work for his.
Pulling back slightly while biting his lower lip she toke a deep breath and exhaled letting the moment infect her entire body. Her shoulder quivered as he lightly brushed them with his lips that started a chain reaction throughout her. “Reservations you say,” Lily said using her words to mask her sporadic wanton convulsions. Taking another deep breath she tried to let a bit of unwanted chastity come between them.
Considering himself an honorable man even if he did not want to be Nathan did not want her to think this was the only reason he was going on a date. He started to laugh and met her forehead with his. “Yes, reservations,” he said having fought off every want in his head.
“We don’t have to,” Lily surrendered deciding that playing hard to get was the least of things she wanted to play.
This was about to be the hardest thing he has ever done. “Do you like French?” he asked leaning back.
“Um, are we talking about food?”
They both started to laugh and he kissed her gently letting his lips feel hers once again. He didn’t want to stop but he did and smiled. “French food,” he said opening the door.
“I don’t know,” she said relieved he had the strength she did not.
“We can try the other later,” Nathan said clearing a way for her to put on her shoes.
She chuckled as she struggled getting her second shoe on. “Oh Yeah, should I be scared?”
“No, no,” Nathan assured her. “You might want to stretch beforehand,” he said then laughed.
“Oh my, are we talking Olympic caliber?” she asked standing up with both shoes finally on.
He gazed into her eyes and smiled. “I am already having an amazing time.”
“Me too,” she agreed smiling back.
“Shall we,” he said leading her out the door.
“We shall.”
TWO: The Restaurant
Arriving at the restaurant they walked through the door and Lily felt like she walked through a portal. Not to another dimension but to another tax bracket compared to her moderate wages serving tea and coffee at Sips.
“Bienvenue monsieur,” the Maître d said calling out to Nathan and waving him closer.
Nathan led Lily to the podium and answered, “Bonjour.”
“Bonjour,” he said and nodded with a little pretentiousness.
Nathan ignored it and replied. “J’ai une réservation, Caesar.”
“Avez-vous appelé?” the Maître d asked if he called, testing his French.
“Mais oui,” Nathan confirmed. “J'ai passé beaucoup de temps en France,” he said assuring him he spent a lot of time in France and was more than capable. “J'aurais aimé être là maintenant,” he said wishing he was there right now.
“Moi aussi monsieur, moi aussi” the Maître d agreed suddenly finding a comrade. Putting his hand on his shoulder and lowering his head slightly in sympathy for their unfortunate circumstances, and then he was back to business. Clapping his hands produced the hostess, seemingly out of nowhere. “La meilleure table disponible,” he said, instructing her to find the best available table. “Amusez-vous monsieur Caesar,” he said genuinely. Turning to Lily he offered the same genuine smile. “Madame,” he said directing her to follow the hostess.
Lily just smiled and nodded not wanting her English to ruin Nathan’s ground work. Leading them across the restaurant the hostess brought them to a center table and held out her hand giving them an automatic smile. Not before she noticed the modelesque hostess giving Nathan a quick once, obviously pleased by the size of her flirtatious smile. Pulling the chair out for her Lily noticed his eyes had never left her. It made her feel as if she was the only one in his universe and she wanted to drown in them. “So,” she let drag out a bit with a hint of surprise. “French.”
“Oui,” Nathan said as if it were nothing.
“Oui,” she copied nodding her head. “A little uppity isn’t it,” she stated not making eye contact and pretending to read the menu. Since it wa
s in French she had to.
“What?” Nathan asked casually. “You don’t speak it?” His tone was almost aghast.
“No,” she said in her best French accent then continued in the same accent. “I do not speak the French.”
“That was the most -”
“Awesomest,” Lily finished.
“Horrifying French accent, I have ever heard . . . and my brother is Cajun,” he finished ignoring her vote. “But how can I expect you to speak French when you can’t even speak English,” he said smartly then started to laugh.
Lily tried not to laugh. “Awesomest is a word,” she said confidently.
“No,” he said wincing. “No it is not.”
Looking around for a waiter she tried to hold back the laughter. “Wonder if they have a dictionary here?” she said then let it out.
Suddenly a waiter appeared at the table. “Oui Madame?” he asked having noticed her looking help.
Lily stopped laughing and looked at Nathan in a panic. “Oh my God, what do I do?”
The waiter was confused and looked at Nathan who was just smiling and waiting. “Je ne comprends pas,” he said slightly shrugging his shoulders.
“Shit,” she exclaimed embarrassingly hunkering down and putting her hands up hiding her face. “Please fix this.”
Nathan hunkered down to her level and hid his mouth from the waiter as well and replied in a loud whisper. “Do you still want a dictionary?”
“No,” she said sitting back up and trying to look as sophisticated as she possibly could.
“"La carte des vins merci,” Nathan said asking for the wine menu.
“Bien sûr,” the waiter said apologetically and disappeared.
She looked at him.
“I asked for the wine menu.”
“Thank you, I didn’t think they were this observant.”
“Of course, look at you.”
Lily was caught off guard by his comment.
Nathan looked at her hopelessly. “When something so beautiful walks into a room it cannot help but be observed,” he said reaching for her hand.
“You’re embarrassing me,” Lily said extending her hand so their fingertips could touch.
“Don’t be, I should be the one who’s embarrassed . . . how can I measure up to something so stunning.”
Looking into his eyes and feeling his fingers race along her own she could not help but play their moment in the hallway over in her head. The air was getting thick and she was becoming hot as she took a deep breath. “Please,” she begged.
“Okay, but you make it hard looking like that.”
“You make it hard . . .” suddenly she couldn’t think of anything to say.
Waiting for her to finish he noticed her turning red with embarrassment and knew she was stuck. “I’m glad I didn’t get stuck with just - you make it hard.”
She laughed. “I wish you did.”
“Really?” he said purposely trying to embarrass her.
“Shit, I meant, I wish you were the one that got stuck, not hard,” she said trying to explain with her hands covering her face again. “Only me,” she said crumbling into her chair.
“Lily, nothing you could say could ruin tonight,” he assured her with a chuckle.
“Oh we’ll see,” she wondered aloud.
“I haven’t had this much fun in a long time. And never with someone as beautiful . . . ever,” Nathan said bringing a calm to her face.
“I think someone might experience 50 shades,” Lily said sitting back up hoping her flirting was at par but did not notice the waiter had returned and was standing beside her.
“50 shades?” the waiter tried to repeat while smiling confused.
“You have got to be kidding,” Lily said wanting to hunker back down, but this time completely under the table.
“C'est un livre,” Nathan said laughing.
“Livre?” the waiter asked about what book.
“Cinquante nuances de Grey,” Nathan said pronouncing the book in French.
“Oh, oui, Cinquante nuances de Grey,” the waiter said finally understanding. “J'ai entendu parler de ce livre,” he laughed and shook his head explaining he has heard of this book.
“Wait, is he putting down my go to book?” Lily asked still embarrassed, but giggling.
“Sort of,” Nathan continued to chuckle.
“How many copies did he sell of his book?” Lily asked jokingly.
The waiter did not understand what she was saying so he continued his conversation with Nathan. “Mais il les rend plus sexy,” he said forgiving the book, especially if it made women feel more sexy.
Nathan was not sure if he agreed with the waiter but agreed nonetheless. “Oui, plus aventureux,” he said commenting on the book making some women more adventurous.
“Oui monsieur,” the waiter agreed. “Puis-je vous offrir quelque chose?” he asked wondering if he could get him anything.
“Chateau Margaux,” Nathan said ordering a wine.
“Très bon,” he said and left the table.
Nathan looked at Lily who was trying not to burst out into laughter or tears, she did not look like she could decide. “I love this place,” Lily said looking around the restaurant trying to change the conversation immediately.
“I’m glad.”
“Here’s hoping the food is good.”
The waiter returned with a bottle of Chateau Margaux, looking to Nathan to see if he wanted to test it first. Shaking his head the waiter began to pour them both a glass and stated he would return shortly to take their order. Raising his glass Nathan smiled. “To the most fun I’ve had in a French restaurant bar none.”
“Why thank you,” she said and raised her glass. Taking a drink Lily actually enjoyed the taste and let her sip run a little longer. Finishing with a pleasant sigh she set her glass down. “Very nice,” she said wanting to take another.
“I thought you might like it. So, what do you feel like eating?” Nathan asked looking at the menu.
Lily did not even bother to pick up the menu. “Whatever you suggest, just don’t tell me what it is if you think, I’ll think its gross,” she said in a jokingly but serious tone.
“Very well,” he chuckled.
“Serious,” Lily said wanting to be clear. “If it crawled before it got to my plate, I don’t want to know,” she explained. “You see where I’m going with this?”
“I do,” he assured her.
“I feel I should say something about the other night.”
“You don’t have to,” he offered.
“I was hoping you never had to see any of that, and I am sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“Thank you, but I’m glad you did. In case you couldn’t put two and two together, he sometimes got rough,” she explained while Nathan just nodded. “Pretty rough some nights, but I finally stood up for myself and left him.”
“You stood up to him pretty good the other night too,” he said taking a sip of his wine.
“Yeah, I did. And please don’t get upset, but I will never let a man treat me like that again, so if . . .” Lily said then started to laugh as tears welled up in her eyes.
“I don’t,” Nathan said quickly to extinguish any thought. Then with the most genuine smile he could give her he held out his hand.
“I know,” she said and took his hand and squeezed. “I just want to show you I’m not a frightened little girl. But a strong woman, a woman you’d want to be with.” Letting a single tear slide down her cheek and catching it with her free hand she began to laugh with a bit of nervousness.
Squeezing her hand to get her attention she looked at him totally exposed.
“When you stood up to that man at the party it showed me without a shadow of a doubt what I already suspected.”
“About me,” Lily inquired while sniffling.
“That you are the most beautiful, funniest and strongest women I had ever met,” he said taking her hand and resting it on h
is cheek. It was the most perfect kind of soft.
Then he gently kissed it.
CHAPTER 16
ONE: A Preacher in Yazoo City
He sat in the booth at the farthest corner of the old diner quietly sipping at his tea. He had fading reddish brown hair and a weathered face that looked kind and contempt. It was not the fact he wore an - on duty - badge of a priest, the white detachable collar worn in front of a black clerical shirt that made him seem instantly kind. It was his frequent smile that seemed genuine and comforting.
Two other men filled the diner who dressed like they just walked out of a mob movie and spoke like they lived it. They were rude and short with her all night. She tried to be polite and talkative to make the obvious Out of Towner’s feel at home but she was met with insults about the way she talked and the town she lived in. Even the food she served was “Horrendous” and the coffee as they put it tasted like “Cat Piss”. In fact the only positive thing they said actually made her skin crawl since they wanted to know when they were done with their business here if she wanted to go back to the hotel room with them and take one in the front and one in the back.
But when the man wearing the white stripe came in and took a seat at the farthest booth, she felt safer. Then when she welcomed him and he smiled back at her she felt warm, guarded even. The night even felt a little sophisticated with his English accent. She liked him, he was polite and patient. And she tried to engage him whenever she could, since the alternative made her earlier dinner want to vacate.
“Where are those eggs Frank?” she asked filling the coffee filter up and dumping the last bit in the pot out.
“Their coming Amber, hold your horses,” Frank said from the serving window.
“Well he’s been waiting,” Amber said putting a new pot in and starting the brewer.
“He’s a priest, not the freaking Pope.”
“He’s a customer that’s been waiting an awful long time for his eggs, especially since his is the only order.”
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