A Dozen Dates

by Mitchell, Missy

  Gemma looked up at him and produced a small smile before informing him, “Apart from Angus Brown... Who I hung out with when I was eleven..!”

  “Oh?”

  “We were going to get married but he ended up moving away with his parents instead,” Gemma explained and Michael chuckled.

  “So apart from Angus Brown..?” Michael questioned.

  “Greg was the only one...” Gemma confirmed, and then asked, “How about you? How many girlfriends have you had, Michael?”

  Michael smiled, “A few...”

  “Well, tell me...” Gemma insisted and Michael went on to briefly talk about each of his four girlfriends. “So you went out with Celia for three years... Why did you break up?”

  “We were different... She’s not a bad person, but we want different things... She loves a high-stress corporate city lifestyle and I want a beer by the pool after an honest day’s work. Nathan knew we weren’t right for each other,” Michael tried to explain.

  “I think I understand... When did you break up?”

  “About fifteen or eighteen months ago...” Michael enlightened her.

  “So you haven’t dated since then?”

  Michael smiled mischievously and holding her gaze, calmly requested, “Define dating...” Gemma gasped and blushed, placing her hand nervously on her stomach, “There hasn’t been anyone special.”

  Gemma surmised that that included her... although he was taking her out... But that was just to ease his conscience... She guessed he treated her a little different because he felt a sense of duty towards her. Michael might have had... some... “Dates” that were not special but she believed he also had a set of morals that he lived by. She didn’t take him for a player, as such.

  She wanted to ask him about his affairs... Whether they were just one night affairs... or if he visited them again... Whether they liked him? What he had wanted from her..? What did he think she had wanted from him?

  Michael smiled at her again, “Penny for your thoughts...”

  Gemma blushed again and grinned shyly as she shook her head, “No way...”

  Michael chuckled, “I can tell by your colour that images of our first night together have just run through you mind...”

  Gemma shot him a shocked glance, surprised at how easily he could see through her. She would have to work on that. “Spill it,” he insisted.

  “Well... Why did you think I... came to you?”

  “I figured you were just looking for revenge sex... and I wasn’t above accommodating you,” Michael informed her, smiling.

  Gemma looked at him and corrected, “It wasn’t revenge sex...” She dipped her eyes to the mug in her hand.

  “Oh?” he exclaimed. Michael had always assumed that that is what it had been and to hear otherwise tweaked his curiosity and he had to ask, “So what was it?”

  “I’m twenty years old... I hated being a virgin - it was a hassle,” Gemma enlightened him. Michael looked at her and noticed how bothered her features appeared as she pledged her honest account of her previous status.

  “A hassle?” he inquired, saddened by her expression yet intrigued to know her truth.

  Gemma looked up at him intending to explain, but then suddenly recoiled her glance and clammed up, “It doesn’t matter...” She clung to her mug with both hands for stability.

  “Tell me,” Michael requested softly as he reached out and placed one of his hands over hers, making her jump! He smiled and ordered her, “Stop jumping and tell me...”

  She looked up, “It probably doesn’t seem like a big deal...”

  “Well obviously it was!” he acknowledged, before taking another mouthful of the brew.

  Gemma looked around the room to make sure nobody was listening before explaining in a whisper, “In this world,” she gestured around the room, “It’s not really okay to be like that at twenty...”

  Michael’s caterpillars wiggled across his face again and he smiled curiously and asked, “What are you talking about? Why not..?”

  “Men don’t like it...” Gemma professed and Michael snickered.

  “Oh? I’m sure they don’t mind...” he tried to reassure her.

  “They do!” Gemma declared out loud before quickly curtailing her voice. “They do mind...” She paused and then confessed, “Greg minded.”

  Michael’s face soured and he declared, “Greg was an idiot!”

  “But it always got in the way...”

  “Greg should have waited...” Michael retracted his hand and dropped it to his side, discreetly making a fist. “I would have waited...”

  “Hymph... You say that, but if you were in his shoes...”

  Michael cut her off, “I would have waited!” He shifted in his seat, angry, but at the same time trying to lift the sense of guilt from her shoulders. “Gemma... Gemma, having kissed you...” Michael smiled fondly but then his eyes turned out a look of absolute seriousness, “I believe you were ready – it wasn’t too soon for you. But you shouldn’t have been pushed until you realised that. My God, you have lived most of your life in isolation – you can’t be expected to totally integrate in a matter of a few measly months!”

  “But...”

  Michael threw his hand in the air, “My God!”

  My God he was angry at that ex of hers – pathetic... loser. He gritted his teeth, livid, but doing his best not to let it show.

  “Anyway, I’m glad it is gone...” she affirmed, before taking a drink of her coffee. Michael looked at her and could see she said it with a sense of peace.

  “Okay, well that is okay then...” Michael began to calm down – Greg would live to see another birthday...

  “So you see... I didn’t use you to get revenge,” Gemma continued in a whisper, and Michael took a mouthful of his coffee, “I used you to... free me.”

  Suddenly Michael choked on his coffee and began to cough and splutter momentarily, and then his eyes sparkled. She had done it again... Flabbergasted him when he least expected it. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and cleared his throat before saying, “Well Gem, it was my pleasure.” Michael grinned at her and Gemma dipped her head and blushed. Now she’s shy again – she was seriously going to be the death of him.

  There, she said it – now he didn’t have to feel guilty anymore. Now he knew it was her – her decision to have sex with him that night. In fact, she had abused him, and not the other way around.

  Michael walked Gemma up to her door and she began poking her key into the lock. She felt him move in close behind her and place his hands on her waist. He put his chin on her shoulder and whispered, “Will you let me nibble you good night, now?”

  His mere proximity sent goose bumps racing all over her and she replied, “I don’t know... Is that allowed?”

  “Well, sure... so long as it is accompanied by a good night kiss.” Michael raised his hand and brushed her hair back behind her ear and planted a couple of small pecks before continuing, “A good night kiss is allowed.” Gemma began to feel herself melt and she reached around behind her body, placing her hand on his thigh to steady herself. Then Michael started to nibble and she sighed quietly. His teeth on her neck were sending shivers all up and down her, but she didn’t panic – instead she nuzzled into it, opening the angle of her neck and allowing him greater access. Each bite stole a little more of her consciousness and each kiss a little more sanity, until finally her knees began to wobble and Michael had to catch her.

  He wrapped one arm around her and turned her with the other, and then he lifted one hand and brushed back her hair again. He gave her little wet kisses, first behind her ear, then on her cheek before finally covering her lips and kissing her sensually.

  Gemma kissed him back, raising her ragdoll arms as she did and wrapping them over his shoulders, one caressing his neck and one exploring his beautiful thick hair. Then she felt the tip of Michael’s tongue, gently sweep the back of her top lip before searching for her tongue. She subconsciously took a handful of his hair and squeezed
it tightly in her hand, almost trembling as his tongue started to slowly, yet forcefully stroke and caress hers, over and over and over, and Gemma tried to do the same.

  She heard Michael sigh deeply and then she started to fret as he slowly retracted his tongue. She didn’t want it to end – she had never been kissed so sensually before in her life, and badly feared that she never would again. She clasped the sides of his head and quickly leaned in and kissed him twice on the lips, and Michael, aware of her need started to leisurely but only briefly kiss her again before gently turning her head into his chest and stroking the side of her face.

  As he clutched her close he wanted never to let her go – she was such a precious surprise, like none he’d ever encountered before. She was green and he knew he was able to coax her sexual curiosity, but could he get her to love him? At least he had seven more dates to woo her. He kissed her on the forehead before raising her face and reminded her, “That’s two down... seven more to go!” He smiled.

  Did he have to count them..? Was dating her really such a chore that he had to count them down like days until the holidays. Knowing he was simply enduring her was humiliating. Gemma hardened her appearance. “Yes, that is two – done and dusted,” she agreed.

  Gemma turned to open the door, but before she could take another step, Michael quickly stepped forward and brushed her cheek with his lips one last time. “Good night, Gem.” Even when fleeting the touch of his lips left her giddy. Did he do that to her on purpose? Surely not... For that would be cruel, to invoke such feelings when he knew he had so carefully proportioned his time with her... allotted time specific for a further seven dates. He didn’t appear to be that cruel a person...

  How foolish he would think she was if he knew how she pined for his touch... yearned for his kiss... ached for his love! She couldn’t let him see – for the life of her he wouldn’t see. She turned her head to face him, “Good night, Michael,” and she smiled coolly, trying to regain at least some dignity.

  Gemma entered her home, went straight to her bedroom and closed the door. Her chest began to heave and tears stung her eyes... her skin was still alive and tingling from his kisses and nibbles, her mind, and unclarified mess. He made her want him. She wanted him now – after two, technically three... encounters. How was she going to get through seven more dates with him without becoming completely and utterly besotted? She couldn’t... She couldn’t possibly!

  Gemma lied on her bed... She was hoping that spending time with him might see him warm to her. He seemed to enjoy her friendship... and he did like her boobs! Tears trickled down her face... But, he has made it clear several times that their number of dates was limited. That there had been nobody special... It’s not like he has ever promised her anything – except seven more dates. My goodness, she could smell him on her... He wafted up her nose and lodged himself in her obsessed psyche... She desperately needed to get unattached; and fast!

  She had to protect her heart. She had to stop seeing him – except for when she was fulfilling her employment obligations, of course. He would argue, feeling at fault for stealing her virginity without dating her initially, but damn it, two dates would have to do. She has assured him of this, already, earlier that night... It was her who was using him... Two dates was enough! Penance completed!

  Gemma had college all day on Wednesday, but on the Thursday she didn’t have class until the evening. She got up early and had a healthy breakfast of hi-fibre cereal with sliced banana and a coffee, before heading out to visit a selection of landscaping centres to see samples of and get quotes for various types of soil and mulch. When she was happy with her outcomes she called into a tucked away little bakery she spotted and picked up some sugary delights for the Michael, Nathan and yes, she will admit... for herself!

  She thought she was over him... until she spotted him. Suddenly, all of her resolutions abandoned her and she was emotively smitten all over again.

  “Hello,” he greeted her with a smile that was so alluring it ought to have been outlawed.

  “H-hello,” she stuttered back. Gemma opened the box of sweet pastries and tarts, presenting them, and Michael’s face lit up like Christmas!

  “Must be time for morning tea... Coffee, Nathan?” Michael asked his brother.

  “Sounds superb..!” Nathan answered, and then upon seeing the treats that awaited him, he too smiled hungrily and doubly confirmed that it was indeed a superb time to break for a cuppa.

  “Michael, when can we cut that Eucalypt down?” Gemma asked as she removed the milk from the fridge and added a spill to each of the cups for Michael to blend with the instant coffee and sugar.

  “Straight after morning tea if you like..?” He answered her with refreshing decidedness.

  “That would be great! Then I can manage the others on my own,” she informed him.

  “What, the palm tree and conifer and that?” Michael inquired.

  “Yeah,” she answered as she picked up her coffee and the box of donuts and followed him out to the back patio.

  “We can do it for you...” Michael offered before sitting down. Gemma sat down after him.

  “Or I could do it...” Gemma suggested confidently, “It is my job!” Their eyes locked.

  “Yes, but it’s our chainsaw...” Michael pleaded, trying to erase the image from his mind of her severing off her foot! “Nathan... Coffee!” he yelled.

  “Do you not trust me with you power tools?” Gemma questioned his motives. Michael frowned - caterpillars at their cutest... Damn him!

  “No, it’s not that...” He reached in and selected a cream donut and as he enjoyed the first luscious mouthful, he arrived at the wise decision to be honest, “I’m just not used to seeing chicks with chainsaws...” Then he grinned and admitted, “It makes me nervous!”

  “I see... Okay...” Gemma said and smiled back. It didn’t offend or anger her... Michael was, in a patriarchal way, protective, and she knew his concern was coming from a good place, and truth granted, most girls her age wouldn’t have any experience with a chainsaw; it was only, with her particular background, she happened to be one that did.

  “I’ll tell you what... I’ll let you have a go, but I get to assist... from a very nearby place.”

  “Deal!” Gemma happily compromised.

  “Oh Gem, yum!” exclaimed Nathan, “I knew hiring you would work out well...” He made eye contact with her and grinned before reaching into the box and grabbing out a plump apple turnover.

  “We’ll get that eucalypt cut down after morning tea?” Michael approached his brother.

  “Yeah sure...” agreed Nathan.

  After their break, the boys tackled the dangerous task of cutting down the badly abused and out of shape abomination of a eucalypt. Nathan boosted Michael up to the fork in the tree and they discussed which bough would be best to lop first. Once they made a decision, Nathan threw up the rope, so Michael could tie it around the branch, ensuring it would be accurately pulled to fall in the safest direction. Next Nathan passed up the chainsaw and Michael pulled the cord, igniting the engine. Nathan pulled the rope taut and used his weight to urge the branch in the direction he wanted it to fall.

  Gemma watched Michael as he balanced confidently in the branches of the tree and buried the rotating jagged teeth into the flesh of its bough. His biceps bulged, veins popping to the surface and his pectorals and stomach muscled twitched and rippled sublimely. Michael wouldn’t have much washing she decided in bliss...

  Crack! The sudden noise brought Gemma from her trance and she jumped back out of the way while the tremendous branch crashed to the ground. She looked up at Michael, who grinned and yelled above the commotion, “Don’t try this at home...” making she and Nathan laugh.

  It took some time to get the whole tree cut down, after which Nathan returned to work on the house, while Michael and Gemma proceeded to the back corner of the yard where the scrappy palm tree stood.

  Michael smiled at Gemma and stated, “Don’t get excited...”
and he handed her the chainsaw. He then scaled the six foot fence, aided only by the proximity of the palm tree and balanced on the corner. “Okay,” he said and he squatted, steadying himself with one hand gripping the palm, and then he reached down with the other to collect the chainsaw. Gemma watched his bicep and triceps flex as he lifted the chainsaw with one burly arm and then his thighs and calves bulge as he stood up and mindfully maintained his balance. He was the picture of a God... He started the tool up and then lifted it high above his head and made a nick in the back of the tree, before changing position and calving into the front. Gemma moved out of the way and watched the palm top plummet, conquered by the superb male divinity. Michael then squatted on the fence and lopped off a section level with his feet, before shutting the motor down and carefully passing the tool down to Gemma, the idoliser, and warning her to be careful not to get burnt. Michael, jumped down off the fence, and announced, “Okay, you can cut down the base...”

  Gemma again wasn’t insulted, instead, she just charged up the chainsaw and finished cutting down the palm. They then went around the front, where Michael allowed her to fall the Conifer and the native and the climbing rose, before together loading them into the back of Michael’s Ute. That part of the mission completed, they returned to the back, where they shared the task of sectioning the fallen eucalypt into manageable sized pieces so they could carry them to the truck for removal. But Michael wasn’t going to have Gemma lifting too much, even though he was certain she would manage one way or the other, so he called out to his brother to assist with the heavier exertions.

  By the time they were finished it was lunch time... But first things first – the day was stinking hot and they were all sweating and dirty from the tree falling task. “Swim,” stated Michael like he was suggesting it to himself out loud, but Nathan soon joined the conversation with an affirmative testimonial. “Gem, you got your swimmers with you today?” Michael asked her.

  “I do...” she confirmed with relief as she stood dripping in the heat, I’ve got them on!”

  “Clever girl,” Michael reported and he smiled. She was a little self-conscious about being half naked in front of the men, but not so much that she would deny herself an invigorating dunk on this scorching summer’s day. Nathan removed his shoes and dived in, looking instantly refreshed the second his head emerged from the water, and Gemma felt a sudden and urgent need to get her boots off as quickly as possible so she too could sink in the cool, cleansing liquid. Michael bomb-dived in as Gemma removed her shirt, the splashes of cool water hit her like a playful tease...