Sweet Sins

by Kent, Madison

  Adam turned and gave them a crooked half smile and said,

  “Hey, I’m glad you guys came. I almost didn’t show because I thought it was too late. I didn’t think I would actually see you guys. I guess it’s just a simple twist of fate. (Arianna would learn quickly that he often quoted lines from Dylan songs) I’ll wait for you while you park the car so we can walk in together.”

  Nicole jumped from the vehicle and took his hand. All thoughts Arianna was having about him disappeared. Whatever, she thought; I’m still going to have a good time. He just another guy she told herself.

  Joining the line to get into Webster’s, Adam stood between them. Just barely touching his arm as they walked up the line, Arianna felt an uncontrollable rush. She tried not to think about him but she knew that would be difficult.

  Once inside, Arianna knew she would return often. From anywhere in the circular, multi-level room, you could observe anyone. It was laid out like a baseball field. Books were everywhere (on wall structures and shelves). Magazine and comics were strewn about and some people were busy reading them.

  “Can I get you chicks something to drink?” Adam asked. It was an old term, that word, chicks, no one ever used that coined word anymore, but he said it for affect and to be playful and somehow it worked for him.

  “Cuba Libra for me, please—I’ll see if I can find a place to sit,” Arianna said.

  “I’ll go with, Adam,” said Nicole wrapping her arms around him.

  Arianna wandered through the expansive club, looking for an open spot. She shook off the feeling of losing Adam before she ever even knew him, besides what difference would it make anyway. The band was playing Clapton’s Cocaine, the dominant beat brought dancers onto every inch of the basketball court sized dance floor.

  A lean surfer boy with a sweet smile grabbed Arianna form behind and started pulling her to the dance floor. She wavered but then spotted Nicole kissing Adam, and followed along. She could see them from the dance floor and as hard as she was trying to dance away his presence, she found herself looking at him, even though he and Nicole were embracing as new found lovers.

  After several dances with Jimmy, Arianna went to find Nicole and Adam. Nicole was circling him like a bird of prey. From what she observed, he did not seem to be responding to her—she was delighted about that.

  “Thanks for the drink, Adam. What do you think of the band? They sound a little like Three Dog Night,” said Arianna.

  “It’s not Dylan, but they’re OK,” he said.

  She was standing since no chairs were available. Most of the club was designed for standing, long half walls filled with books were there to lean against or prop yourself atop. Feeling uncomfortable around their amorous activities, Arianna decided to accept Jimmy’s offer to dance with her again.

  Nicole leaned over and kissed him on the neck. Having consumed some vodka shots, she was becoming aggressive in her pursuit of him.

  “You smell delicious and your damn muscles are driving me crazy. Do you work out?”

  “Yeah, there’s a club at the beach. Late at night I go there or I run a couple miles every night. I like running at 2 or 3AM. There’s no one around and get home put some Dylan on and I feel good.”

  “Come on, dance with me.”

  Adam danced like most guys; he stood in place and moved maybe enough to flutter a piece of paper. All the bad boys never let go on the dance floor. Nicole danced around him, grabbing his butt. Lapis Lazuli eyes, the peach and tan safari shirt, his body hugging jeans were enough to attract the attention of most of the young females that seemed to gather around him. A slow dance began and Adam pulled Nicole to him.

  Arianna and Jimmy had also returned to the dance floor but now she released her partner’s hand; she could not observe them any longer. When her vision landed on the two of them, her heart pinched. Damn, why didn’t she just stop thinking about him? She did not want to, but she felt compelled to watch them. He was holding her unbearably close, his eyes closed. Nicole was contented. Her hands were wrapped around his neck, grabbing onto his mouth as if she were having her last meal. Arianna gasped and watched for another moment, then shook her shoulders as if a raven had landed on her shoulder.

  “Jimmy, let’s get another drink. The dance floor is too crowded.”

  She felt if she watched them kissing any longer that it would ruin the rest of the night.

  Jimmy had cropped blonde hair and looked like a beach bum. Endearing in his pursuit of her, she welcomed his company at this moment.

  “Are you from around here?” he asked.

  “Close enough—Tampa. I’m originally from Chicago but I am glad to have left that frigid place behind. I’ve only been here a short time but I love it—it’s paradise.”

  “I’m from Tampa too, going to USF.” Taking her face in his hand he said, “You have the most beautiful smile.”

  He started to kiss her, but she pulled away, resting her head against his shoulder.

  “Let’s get out of here and get something to eat.”

  “Thanks, but I’m here with friends. I have to get back with them, but we’ll dance later, OK?”

  A short distance from the dance floor, Adam and Nicole had found a table and Arianna joined them. Nicole continued to keep her body wrapped around his. Sitting across from Adam, Arianna took the chance to boldly stare at his beautiful eyes. She had enough Rum and Coke’s by this time to no longer feel embarrassed by her feelings about him. With Nicole caressing his arm and her leg rubbing against his, Arianna still could not release herself from his sight. Adam was looking at her now, his butterfly blue eyes holding her prisoner. Silence engulfed them, forming a circle of two. They connected crossing over to a place where only lovers go. His hand pulled away from Nicole’s grasp and he reached across the table to take her hand.

  He touched her hand as if he were holding a fragile flower, a sensation of overwhelming joy entering into her. Nicole started with hostility, pulling at Adam’s hand.

  “Hey, what are you doing, Babe, come on back over here,” she said.

  Nicole threw her arms around Adam and tried to kiss him, this time he pulled away with a disgusted look.

  “Look, chick, you’re an all right babe but I would like to dance with Arianna. Why don’t you get yourself another drink?”

  Nicole was so agitated that she released him with a jerk, knocking his drink into his lap. Turning, she glared at Arianna and yelled,

  “I don’t know why the hell you just did that Ari, but that’s just crap, you knew we were together.”

  “Nicole, I’m sorry but…” She didn’t really have any words of explanation that made sense.

  “Forget it, there’s plenty of guys here for me,” she said as she exited, entering the vast arena of people surrounding them.

  Arianna pulled her chair closer into the table and extended her hand closer to his.

  “Arianna, you look lovely tonight. The first time I saw you, all I could think about was what it would feel like to hold you in my arms.”

  His words turned her skin to a rosy blush and she tilted her head down. Did he really mean that? Was he thinking of her the way she had been thinking of him. It made her skin tingle.

  “Adam, I’m so happy you’re here tonight. I know I don’t even know you but I kept thinking how terrible I would have felt if you didn’t show up. The first time you looked at me, I knew I wanted to be with you. I thought I was just idly dreaming about you, but here you are. Life is great.”

  He guided her to the dance floor, their bodies so close as if someone was trying to pull them apart and they were unwilling to yield. They danced like a carousel spinning; the music played for them their first song, Dylan was singing, Lay Lady Lay. This would forever be their song, she clung to him as Dylan’s words echoed her wishes, stay with your man awhile, until the break of day, let me see you make him smile.

  He said, “I want to be alone with you. Come on to my place at the beach.”

  She closed her eyes
and nestled closer to him. “Yes, yes I would love that but what about Nicole. She’s so angry; I don’t think she will stand for me taking her home without creating a scene.”

  “Do you remember I told you about Beau, he’ll be there? I’ll invite him over or maybe she’ll meet someone here she would like to take along.”

  “Wonderful, maybe we can make it over to your house without her making a scene. I know she is very attracted to you, you’re all she could talk about since we met you.”

  “She’s cute but it’s not her I want to be with.”

  He smiled at her as they nudged through the crowd at Webster’s to meet Nicole.

  “Yes, do you want something?” Nicole snapped.

  Her eyes showed her disdain from them both.

  “Would you like to go to Adam’s house? They just announced last call and we thought we would have breakfast there.”

  Nicole turned to her new conquest and asked, “Jonathan, what do you think?”

  “Why not, Sweet, you want to get lucky?”

  Jonathan’s fingers walked across her halter top as she unashamedly laughed.

  “Well, then let’s get out of here.”

  When they arrived at Adam’s place on the tenth floor, a girl in clinging skins came out of Beau’s condo.

  “Looks like Beau’s having another one of his all-nighters’. Let’s go over and check it out,” said Adam.

  Beau answered the door to his neighbor and said, “Hey, what’s shakin’? You brought beautiful women…yes! Come in, ladies, I’ll get you a drink and anything else you want.”

  He escorted the girls into a room where a mural of the ocean was sprawled across the length of the room’s wall. Rattan chairs were smothered with fluffy cushions with bodies laid across them. A neon beer bottle lighted the hall, accented by statues of nude woman and men.

  Beau had that (I haven’t eaten anything in a month) look. No muscle and a chubby beer stomach, long Heidi, stringy hair and shabby clothes. He looked like a DJ—a mess, but he had a melodious voice and gobs of charm.

  Nicole seemed to be attracted to both Jonathan and Beau. She was smiling now and enjoyed her male admirers. Two other couples stretched out by the balcony while Adam and Arianna sat on the floor against the wall.

  “We should go over to my place. I got Dylan. He never plays any Dylan. What do you think?”

  “Not yet, let’s stay a little longer for Nicole’s sake but tell me everything about yourself, anything and everything you want.”

  “Well, Babe, I’m kind of a loner. People are OK, you gotta’ have them around to watch so you know your normal but mostly I just like to watch them. They are great liars. I like seeing who can outdo the other.

  I love woman, particularly rich red-headed chicks. I ain’t never been in love. I’ve said the words but I ain’t never been. It’s supposed to be like this thing that’s so great so I guess I’d know it if it happened. One of the things I love about women is they have this like super soft skin. I can’t figure that out, how it’s so soft. I like freedom, so I don’t think I’ll ever have any kids. I don’t mind them, I mean, my brothers have kids and I don’t mind them around as long as someone else takes care of them. I love red headed girls like you especially. I like…”

  He stopped, tilted her chin up and kissed her so delicately it was like a whisper. Another kiss, an airbrush kiss, lifted from his lips into her heart.

  Nicole appeared smirking as if she had been watching them. Liquored up, she sat down next to Adam and placed her leg over his.

  “You can’t really want to be with her when you could have me.”

  Arianna and Nicole were long-time friends but the alcohol and her instant attraction to Adam were making her behave badly.

  Adam responded, “Beau, come and pick up your girl here, or is she too much for you to handle?”

  Nicole pushed Beau’s hand away and began grabbing Adam again.

  “Look, Arianna and I are together tonight, besides Jonathan thinks you’re the best thing that ever was.”

  “That’s true, Hon,” Jonathan said, “Woman, would you just get over here.”

  “Well, it’s your loss not mine, Adam. OK, let’s go Jonathan.”

  “That’s our exit too, Arianna, let’s go to my place,” said Adam.

  In a few minutes, they were inside 10B. With the sliding doors open, you could see and hear the ocean (a beautiful sight). The salty night air drifted in over them as they lay on a blanket on the balcony.

  He opened his shirt and Arianna saw his golden skin and sun fringed curly hair centered down his chest. His broad chest displayed his pumped muscles and the little Gemini neck piece. Moonlight eyes looked at her and she could have decided to stay here for the rest of her life.

  When his mouth reached for her, her body rose like the ocean and crested against him. She kissed him as if she had been starving for this kiss, this only kiss, her entire life.

  Wherever he touched, she felt as if her body had come alive after a Rip Van Winkle sleep. Never had a man created these sensations in her.

  “Arianna, stay the night with me. Let me look at you while you sleep and see the sunrise with you by my side.”

  “A dreamer’s delight, maybe someday I will. As much as I want to stay, I have to get Nicole home.”

  “Friday, will you both come back to Webster’s? I’ll bring Beau.”

  “Yes, we’ll be there, that’s for certain.”

  Christopher Cross was smoothly singing Sailing as they drove back over the Bay. Fantasy, she thought, this must be a fantasy, I must be dreaming. She was sailing with Adam on an ocean they created for themselves. She hoped this would be the beginning of something wonderful. It’s not that far down to paradise, it just a drive across the bridge to Adam’s house. She would always sing this song on her way to Adam’s house; this would define how she felt about their relationship. She would never again hear that song without feeling happy and dreaming of him. Renoir was no longer an impressionist this morning, life was detailed, every color, every movement had become personified.

  Chapter IV

  Dreams of Tomorrow

  Nicole decided she would accept Beau and was no longer pining over Adam.

  “You’re lucky, Arianna, to have a guy like that, for however long you can hold onto him. I would have given anything to have made sweet love with him, but I guess Beau will have to do. Jonathan is a sweet little honey too, but I’ve already been with him. I do want this to be a vacation to remember so I’ll try Beau on for size. Little prissy Carl, is probably crying his eyes outright now and kicking in the doors of his car.”

  Nicole had come to Tampa on the day she was to be married. Fleeing from the hounds, she had left her fiancé, Carl, standing at the altar.

  “My Mom went so crazy at the thought of what I was about to do that she begged me to still marry him and just get a divorce after. Imagine that, that’s how much pressure and embarrassment she was going through that she would rather see me divorced than to leave Carl at the last minute. What a mess it is going to be when I get back and have to return all the money and gifts and I am sure Carl will be waiting for me. No one should be married when they have just turned 21. That’s just ridiculous. I’m glad to be rid of him. So, OK, you can have Adam, but I’ll take Jonathan, Beau and whoever else I fancy.”

  “I know you will be happier without Carl, he’s not the type to spend the rest of your life with. He was such a Mama’s boy, and you would have had a cold-hearted mother-in-law that gnaws on girls like you. I’m glad we are talking again. Yes, Adam is incredible. He is a once in a lifetime. I know I am treading in uncharted water and I shouldn’t even be there but I can’t help myself. No matter what the consequence, I have to be with him,” said Arianna.

  “You know there will be consequences. You are going where you have no right to be. Are you sure you are prepared for what it will cost you? You will have to make significant changes to be with him,” said Nicole.

  “I know. I know.
I don’t want to think about that right now. This ride on my Peter Pan carpet is my own fairy tale. Sometimes in life, a fairy tale or two sneaks into reality, why not my reality? Let’s just go, there are a couple of boys waiting for us at Webster’s.”

  Whenever she saw him, everything but him seemed to disappear. His presence in any room was always noticed.

  “Arianna, you look great, come on over here close to me, stay with me a while.” Adam spoke in a soft, tender voice. She knew she would sell her soul to be with him and somehow, she thought, she might just have to do that.

  “Adam, you know I’ll always be yours,” she answered him with a wink.

  This must be paradise and she would stay here as long as she could. They stayed at Webster’s until the lights came on. Somehow this slight action made her uneasy. It’s the end of the night, a night that will never come again. She hoped this time she had found a love that would not end.

  They went back to Beau’s condo where Nicole and Beau drifted off into another room. Adam and Arianna exited to his condo. They put Dylan on and she lay with her head in his lap while he stroked her face. She felt like a nymph. His hands caressed her while his lips kissed her shoulders. He pulled his white polo over his head and laid his bare chest up against her. They kissed again and again, but neither touched the other in any intimate way. There was something holding them back, an unknown abyss they would fall into should they be that close.

  Each evening for the duration of Nicole’s stay, they partied. They used the night as their vehicle to the moon. Like holding onto a whip, while licking the cream off the strawberries, these were the times of remembering.

  Chapter V

  Revelations

  After Nicole returned to Chicago, Adam and Arianna were alone for the first time to explore each other. Adam would talk of his secret passions.

  “Almost every Sunday since I’ve been 16, I spent digging up dirt on a motocross field. My Dad bought me my first bike the summer we moved to Florida from Pennsylvania. My Mum hated it. She always put her hands up to her face and yell, Jesus Maria. She still does, I’ve had so many injuries, but that’s all part of it. The pain lets you know you’re alive. I’ve never won a race yet, but I’ve placed many times. There’s nothing like the feeling I get when I’m racing. Long before the race starts, all I can think about is being on that track. Sometimes you have to wait all day for your race, but I watch the other riders and work on my bike. They have some incredible spills. Yet everyone here has an addiction to the sport, they just keep on pumping away. Someday I’m gonna’ be a great racer, maybe in Daytona, on the motocross field. Someday I’m gonna’ be somebody great. I know that. Let’s see, I’m 24 now, so girl, by the time I’m 25, that’s when it will be. Where ever you are, I’m gonna’ lay down in your front yard and say, “Top of the world-look at me now!”