The Space Between Us

by Anie Michaels

  “You cold, Bit?”

  I just shook my head. The trembling wasn’t from the cold, it was from the longing I felt running amok throughout my body. I felt it everywhere and as it swept through my system it stole my breath away with it. He moved me closer to the propane warmer anyway, and I felt the warmth waft over me. I pressed my cheek harder against his chest, my hands still able to reach his neck, if only for the high-heeled boots I was wearing.

  His hands came to rest on the curve of my waist and I noticed that we were slowly swaying back and forth, dancing to no music, but dancing nonetheless. “Asher?” I looked up towards his eyes.

  “Yeah?” He answered softly.

  “I feel like the jacket I got you for Christmas is really lame now.” He laughed, which is exactly what I was going for.

  “I love the jacket. And I also love knowing that I can totally outdo you in the gift department.”

  “Should I even try to compete?”

  “No. Just let me spoil you.”

  And I did. I enjoyed everything he did for me. He swept my hair out of my eyes and tucked it behind my ear. He placed small, teasing kisses on my bare skin where he could. I felt his lips along my neck, on my ear, then softly on my mouth. His hands gripped me firmly and pulled my feet from the ground, bringing my face level to his. Taking advantage, I wrapped my arms fully around his neck and used my hands to feel the muscle beneath his coat. His strong shoulders flexed with use as he held me to him. He held me like this for a few minutes, longer than anyone should be able to hold up another person, but he eventually put me down and like clockwork I heard the trotting of Utopia coming back to collect us.

  Stan pulled the carriage right up to us and Asher held a hand out to help me up. I climbed in and took a seat, looking back at the beautiful setting Asher created for us. I frantically stood up and shouted, “Wait!” I pulled out my cell phone and tried to capture what I could of the most romantic night of my life on the tiny screen. I got a few shots and admitted to myself that it would never look as good in a picture as it did at that moment and gave up. I moved to put my phone away and he grabbed it from me and spun us around, holding his arm out, and took a picture of us. Right before I heard the ‘click’ created by the phone snapping the picture, I felt his lips press against my cheek. Instinctually, my eyes closed and I turned my head slightly into his touch. I saw the flash through my eyelids, but couldn’t be bothered to open my eyes.

  Chapter Four

  Summer came quickly, ending what could only be described as a tumultuous first year of college. Reeve was almost back to her normal self and although she wasn’t as outgoing as she used to be, she wasn’t a recluse anymore. I felt like I had my best friend again. Reeve and I decided to head home for summer vacation, but true to tradition, Asher traveled to his grandfather’s farm. We would have a few weeks at the beginning and end of break together, but he would be gone for the majority of the summer. His grandfather was getting older and needed a lot more help than he had in the years past, so Asher had a responsibility to go. I didn’t mind as much as I had before. Summers together just weren’t a part of our relationship. And I’d be lying if I didn’t admit the excitement that fueled our reunions wasn’t a big reason why I wasn’t totally crushed to see him go. I knew when he got back we would be crazy with need for each other. Plus one long summer of working hard in the sun always returned a bronzed and buff Asher. No, I didn’t complain. I just tried to return the favor and make sure I looked just as good for him. I was ok with him being gone, but goodbyes were never fun.

  The day he left I tried to hold back my sad tears because I knew it didn’t help him, but I couldn’t stop the few tears that slid down my cheek. He kissed them away, whispering to me that he would miss me, that we would call each other every day. We would email, send letters, but I could hear in his voice he was just as upset as I was.

  I looked up at him, his face blurred through the tears I refused to let go and watched as he leaned in to kiss me goodbye. I hated goodbye kisses. They were so sad and empty.

  “I love you,” he said against my lips.

  “I love you too.” I cried quietly.

  “I’ll miss you.” I answered by kissing him again. Eventually he pulled away, kissed my forehead and walked away.

  One month later I woke up to Reeve crashing through my bedroom door.

  “Wake up!” She yelled as she jumped on my bed. I was startled enough to sit straight up in my bed and I felt my heavy ponytail whip around to the front of my face. I heard her laugh as I pushed my hair out of my face. “Time to get up. We’ve got stuff to do.”

  “What the hell could we have to do at,” I looked over at my alarm clock, “eight am?”

  “We’re going to get you pampered, all courtesy of your lovesick boyfriend.” My heart skipped a few beats at the mention of Asher.

  “What?” I asked as a smile grew on my face.

  “Yes. He is sad he can’t be here for your birthday, so he’s instructed me to take you out and make you feel wonderful.”

  I cocked my head to the side and frowned a little. “Aww….” I said, feeling that warm gooeyness take over my insides. He was so sweet. “My birthday is tomorrow though,” I said, a little bit confused.

  Reeve held up her hands. “Hey, I’m just following instructions.” She stood up and pulled the covers off of me. “Get up. You’ve got ten minutes to get downstairs and don’t wash your hair.”

  “Ok,” I laughed.

  Forty-five minutes later we were at a spa so exquisitely beautiful I couldn’t help but look around and gawk.

  “Hi, we’ve got appointments for nine am. Charlie and Reeve,” she said to the receptionist behind her ornately beautiful hand-carved wooden desk. From that moment on it was one wonderful experience after the next. We had massages, manicures, pedicures, facials and the last stop was the hair salon.

  “Uh, I’m not sure I want a haircut,” I nervously said to Reeve. She turned to the stylist attending to me and gave her a serious look.

  “We’re on very strict orders from our benefactor for the hair. A slight trim, no more than a half inch, an extravagant wash complete with scalp massage, and a deep conditioning treatment. He wants her hair soft, shiny, and long. So seriously, don’t cut it much.” Reeve turned back to me and rolled her eyes. “He nearly made me sign a contract to make sure you wouldn’t come out of here with your hair any shorter.”

  I didn’t bother telling her all the times he pulled it while we made love or how he used it to manipulate my body to position me. I just shrugged. “He likes it long.” And I liked keeping it long to make him happy. He’s always loved my hair. Changing the subject, I casually mentioned how all this must have cost him a small fortune. I saw Reeve try to hide a smile.

  “He’s been saving the money he made from his grandfather to pay for your present. Don’t worry Charlie; he loves you and wanted to do this for you. Well,” she paused and the sneaky smile was back. “For us. I made him pay for me too, seeing as how I was forced to spend the entire day here with you.” I giggled along with her because I could totally see her weaseling to get her way.

  When the entire process was complete, we both looked and felt amazing. My hair had never been softer and my skin was glowing. I was relaxed and happy. All I needed was Asher’s arms around me and everything would be perfect.

  We got back into Reeve’s car and I listened to her endless rattling until I realized we were not headed towards our part of town.

  “Reeve, where are we going? Home is the other direction.” She waved a hand at me like it didn’t matter.

  “I just have one more errand to run. It will only take a minute, promise.” I sat back in my seat resigned to listening to her for as long as I was stuck in the car. Heaven forbid you reach to turn up the stereo or try to engage in conversation. When Reeve drove she wanted an audience, not a participant. I was so zoned out I never even noticed when the car stopped until Reeve opened her door and popped out. She walked around to
my side of the car and opened my door too. I looked up at her, puzzled.

  “Come on, Charlie. You’ve got a plane to catch.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You’re flight leaves in an hour and a half, so you better hurry up.”

  “What flight?” Reeve rolled her eyes at me.

  “The flight your boyfriend booked you so he could spend your birthday with him tomorrow. So, hurry up.” She grabbed my arm and hauled me out of the car.

  “I don’t have any luggage. I didn’t pack anything,” I said, nearly panicked. I began to remember how much I hated surprises. Reeve walked to her trunk and popped it open, pulling out a rolling suitcase.

  “Everything you need should be in here. If I forgot something I’m sure you can manage to pick it up when you get there.”

  “Is this really happening?” I was in shock. How had all of this been planned right under my nose? “Does my dad know where I’m going?”

  “Yeah, he’s in on it. All three of us were. Asher hounded us to make sure it all got planned while we still kept it a secret. You better have a freaking fantastic time, or he’s gonna hear about it from me. This was such a pain in my ass.” She moved in and pulled me into a hug. “But you’re worth it. So have a great time, have some great sex, and tell me all about it when you get back.”

  “Reeve?” I mumbled into her shoulder.

  “Yeah?”

  “I’ve never been on a plane before. I’m scared.”

  “In the front zipper pocket of your suitcase there is a tiny bottle of vodka. Before you go through security stop somewhere and get an orange juice. Pour it in and chug it down. You’ll be fine.” She pulled away and winked at me.

  “You really did think of everything.”

  “That was your dad’s idea.” I laughed and covered my mouth. The idea of my father giving the ok for his underage daughter to consume alcohol was completely ridiculous to me. It had me giggling all the way to the tiny store inside the airport where I bought my overpriced orange juice.

  Chapter Five

  Exiting the plane and walking through the unfamiliar airport was thrilling. I looked to every face I saw, every man I encountered was studied to make sure it wasn’t him. I didn’t want to miss him and I wanted to find him as soon as possible. The flight wasn’t very long and the vodka helped ease my fears, but the anticipation of seeing him, knowing we would be together soon, was enough to make a girl sprint through an airport terminal.

  I caught a glimpse of his face as I darted around other passengers reuniting with their families. My heart clenched in my chest and I pushed back the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. My purse dropped from my shoulder and I ran as fast as I could to leap onto him. Luckily for us, he caught me and I sighed heavily as his arms wrapped around my waist. They were thicker and sturdier. Harder, even. I loved what summers on the farm did to his body. I could feel his stomach was rock hard as well.

  “Asher,” I breathed into his neck.

  “Bit,” he countered as he ran his hand down the length of my hair. “God, I missed you.”

  “I missed you too.” We held each other there, in the middle of the airport, for a long while, neither of us willing to let the other go so easily. Eventually I released my arms from around his neck and pulled back to look at him. His hair was a little longer, his freckles were deliciously darker, and his eyes were a deep, dark gray, darker than usual. “Hi,” I said shyly.

  “Hey, Babe. You ready to get out of here?” His words held promises of time alone, time to feel each other, to reconnect.

  “Yes.” He pressed his lips to mine and all the promises his words held were vowed again in his kiss. His lips slid over mine and I was reminded how well my body responded to him. Pleasure rippled through my body, concentrating in my core at the juncture between my thighs. I only wore a pair of yoga pants and I knew he could feel the heat that began to radiate from my center.

  “Ok, time to go,” he said as he pulled away. “A few more minutes of this and we’ll both get in a lot of trouble with the TSA. They frown on people having loud and rough sex in front of baggage claim.”

  “Loud and rough?” I gulped.

  “Or sweet and quiet,” he shrugged, “whichever you prefer. All I know is that I need to be inside of you, like yesterday.”

  We walked hand-in-hand to his car and shared kisses at almost every single stop light we caught. The first few were innocent and sweet, but slowly they transformed into passionate kisses that were beginning to feel like poor and unsatisfying replacements for other bodily contact. His hand found my thigh as we drove through the streets and I willed it to slide farther up, closer to my core where I desperately needed something – anything.

  I expected us to drive to a farm, but was surprised again when he turned into the parking lot of a hotel. “We aren’t going to your grandfather’s farm?”

  “Nope,” he said as he turned off the car and got out. There was some serious lack of information going on here. I climbed out of the car and met him at the trunk where he was lifting my bag out.

  “How long are we staying here?”

  “Just two nights.”

  “Then what?”

  “We’ll go back to my grandpa’s farm after that. I took a few days off, but then I’ll have to get back to the farm to help out.”

  “How long am I staying?”

  “Your plane home leaves in four days,” he said with a smile. “So, two days here and two days on the farm. Is that ok?”

  “Yeah.” It was the best birthday present ever.

  “Great. Let’s go inside,” he said while his eyes glimmered with excitement. He nearly dragged me all the way to the elevator once we were inside the lobby.

  “Don’t we have to check in?” I asked as he pressed the call button no less than forty times, as he eagerly watched the doors, waiting for them to open.

  “I checked in before I picked you up. Don’t worry about anything. I’ve got it all covered.” The doors to the elevator slid open and I was hauled in. I assumed the elevator was empty but had no way to be completely sure because Asher had my back pressed up against the far wall before the doors even shut completely.

  His hands roamed down my waist, over my hips, and slid back over my ass. His mouth was on my neck and I couldn’t help but grip the hair at the nape of his neck.

  “I’ve missed you so much, Bit. I think this has been the worst summer yet,” he said through garbled words mumbled against the sensitive skin of my collarbone. His hands swiftly came around to my front and slid between my flesh and the fabric of my shirt. He cupped my breasts over my bra and I gasped as his thumbs teased my nipples aching for more attention.

  “I missed you too. But I don’t, oh...” His fingers applied more pressure to my breasts and sent spikes of pleasure throughout my body. “But, oh god, I don’t think I realized how much until right now.” Our lips found each other and the kiss devoured us. Suddenly Asher was pulling away and I was abandoned in my state of acute arousal, left cold. My eyes opened just as the doors to the elevator were opening. A couple, about mid-fifties, stood on the other side of the threshold and by the looks on their faces Asher hadn’t pulled away quick enough to conceal what we were doing.

  The four of us stood staring at each other for what seemed like a millennia, but eventually the woman cleared her throat and mustered a quiet, “We’ll just wait for the next elevator.” Asher stealthily moved forward to hit the button to close the doors and I watched with complete embarrassment as their faces disappeared behind the mirrored plates of the elevator doors.

  “I can’t even believe that just happened,” I said as I rubbed my hand up and down my face, feeling the burn of my red face against my hand. Then I heard the distinct sounds of Asher laughing. “What is so funny?” I didn’t find it amusing. It was embarrassing. “Asher!” He was gasping for air, he was laughing so hard. His finally bent down to rest his hands on his knees, trying to regulate his breathing.

  “Bab
e, their faces. I’ll never forget the look on that woman’s face!” He started laughing all over again.

  “She’s probably never walked in on anyone mid-coitus in an elevator before,” I said, exasperated.

  “Bit, we were fully clothed. If anything, she saw you getting felt up. No nudity involved. Coitus interuptus. He’s probably gonna get lucky tonight thanks to us.” I studied his face, as red as mine but not from humiliation, from laughter. He looked young and happy. And he was mostly right. We were young and in love. So what if someone caught us making out? It might have been a hard-core make out session, but whatever. The doors opened again and Asher took my hand. “This is us.”

  The room he led us to was beautiful. I hadn’t stayed in many hotels before, but I liked what I saw in this one. There was an enormous king-sized bed in the middle of the room, draped with a deep, royal purple comforter that looked like it swallowed a fluffy cloud. There were pillows to the point of excess and one very comfortable-looking chaise lounge near a balcony plush with greenery. I nearly raced to the bathroom to see the bathtub.

  “Oh my goodness, Asher. There is a tub in here that would fit five very large, grown men. I might spend all two days in this very tub.”

  “Not all two days I hope,” I felt his words as he came up behind me and rested his jaw on my shoulder.

  I spun around and looked him in the eye. “Well, what else would I do with my time?” His answer was to lift my shirt over my head. I tried to hide my smile but it was hopeless. The smile, however, went away on its own when I saw the look in his eyes. His gray eyes were even darker than normal and my belly flopped at the thought of what that meant. He wanted me. It had been over a month since we’d been together and I felt the familiar ache take up residence between my legs.