by R. E. Laurel
The drive back to her house was done in silence, no doubt each lost in their own thoughts. Victor didn’t even bother with turning on the radio and the three phone calls he totally ignored. He wasn’t in the mood to talk with anyone except with Maren, but she was sulking.
“Did something I say to upset you?” His voice broke the silence.
“No,” she lightly answered.
He glanced over at her, not missing the confused expression etched on her face. The red and yellow glow of the dash only enhanced them.
“Damn,” he muttered.
Maren slightly turned her head to glance at him. The scowl on his face was very noticeable. Pressing her lips together she focused on the road in front of them. What is my problem? I was having a wonderful time with him. Nerves. Yes, that’s it. My nerves kicked in with his fervent attention.
He pulled the rental car into her driveway. Shutting it off he hurried out of his seat to rush over to her side. He quickly opened the door. Maren could not get over this male courtesy he had as he straightened his arm to hold his hand upright. Smiling and shaking her head in disbelief she placed her hand in his.
“You are nothing like I believed you would be,” Maren spoke with the disbelief she felt.
“It’s called being a gentleman. I have learned a few things in my life.” He chuckled.
“Apparently so,” she added. He kept her hand in his as they walked up the steps to her front porch. The tiny table lamp sitting on an inside window table barely illuminated their faces through the lace curtains. Turning, she stood against the front door, tipping her head back to look up at him. “I want you to know that I had the best time I have ever had this evening.”
“Me too,” he truthfully replied through a shiver from the cold air that just picked up. He reached out, his hand brushing the tendrils away from her face.
Bending, he pressed a kiss on her lips, his forefinger twirling a lock of her hair. “Well, good night.” Damn, he hated to leave. He let her hair slide away as he took a step back.
Suddenly not ready to be alone tonight, she blurted, “It’s still early, would you like some coffee or hot chocolate?” She questioned, thinking, me? Good lord Maren, she chided herself. He caused her to think of things she never thought about for quite a while.
He shrugged, “Sure. That sounds good.”
She unlocked the door and he followed inside and was transferred back in time. He marveled at the beauty of her home with the wood crown molding to the hardwood floors, built-in bookcases, window seats. Wood everywhere, as far as the eyes could see. Persian rugs of rich blue floral accented the floors.
“Have a seat in there,” she did a rapid point to where the parlor would be. “I’ll be right back.”
He watched her drop her coat across the banister then place her purse on top. Removing her shoes, she walked away. His gaze dropped to the gentle swishing sway of her hips before she disappeared back a corridor. He pursed his lips at the vision. Sighing, he shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants as he meandered into the parlor and again taken by the amazement of the turn of the century décor. Glancing upwards the four-tier crystal chandelier hung showing many prisms. He could also see a matching chandelier through the wide doorway leading to the dining room and beyond that the light showing the kitchen. When he noticed a switch at the doorway, he reached out to flick it upwards, the light brightly glowing. He turned a nob beneath that controlled the brightness where he quickly lowered the power. The green glass tiled fireplace was definitely the main attraction the carved mantle reached to the twelve-foot ceiling. He was about to sit down on the wine-red couch covered with floral print pillows when he heard a loud crash.
Maren scurried to the cherry cupboards and she froze. Her chest rose and fell with a deep breath. She invited him to her house.
“Calm yourself down. He’s only a man. You’ve had men in for coffee before so what’s the difference with now?” She spoke out loud, hoping her voice would help alleviate her nerves. Bracing her hands on the countertop, she closed her eyes while taking in another deep breath. “Because you want another date with him and another. Because you are having way different feelings for him already. Admit it, girl, you are most assuredly interested in him.”
Her trembling hands once again reached for the large ceramic mugs in the cupboard. As she set them on the counter, she took in another breath.
“Do you prefer coffee or hot chocolate!” she called out, wincing as her voice cracked.
“Either or!”
She grinned as a shiver of pleasure swept over her and again she marveled at how the mere sound of his voice could send her into a sense of joy. Going to the pantry, she retrieved the container holding a homemade mixture of hot chocolate. Spinning to place it next to the mugs, she bumped one sending it crashing to the floor.
“Damn!” Quickly she bent to pick up the pieces.
Victor rushed towards the sound to find Maren on the floor picking up large pieces of glass. “Hey, are you all right?” He knelt next to her to begin helping.
“Yes, just have a case of the clumsy’s right now. I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”
“Let me get this,” Victor suggested, looking from the pieces into her face filled with apprehension. “Get me a broom and you finish getting our drinks.”
He waited for her to stand before grinning when he realized that he was making her nervous. She’s a far cry different than the lady he had dinner with. He grasped the broom from her grip to proceed to clean up the tinier pieces while she put water into a tea kettle to heat. Deciding to play on her nerves he quietly stood and moved close behind her.
Leaning nearer, he softly spoke, “Where is the garbage can.” His voice sent her into a frenzied jump along with a gasp. He laughed when she spun to take a swing at him. “Whoa, whoa. My God, calm down!”
“You scared the crap out of me!”
Still chuckling, he emptied the dustpan into the garbage before handing the broom back to her. “Do you want me to help?”
“No. Just stop scaring me.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m going back to the living room.”
“Ha ha.”
Victor still smiled when he plopped onto the sofa. Grimacing, he reached behind him to remove one of many pillows lying across the couch and got settled when a loud meow sounded on the floor by his feet.
“Hi, kitty cat. Perhaps you can tell me why your human acts the way she does.”
A loud meow was his answer.
“Oh, I see. Not talking, huh? I guess I’ll have to find out myself,” he said, bending to brush his hand down the orange tabby’s back, receiving a loud purr.
Maren walked in on the scene, carrying a cup of hot chocolate in each hand. “I see you’ve met Mr. Whiskers. I can’t believe he isn’t hissing or clawing at you,” she stated, placing the cups on coasters on the oval marble top coffee table.
“We had a small discussion and he wasn’t any help. What are your plans for tomorrow?”
“We start early in the morning. It’s baking cookies day at mom’s and then I go to the youth center.”
“Youth center?”
“Yes, to deliver some cookies to the children. They’re a wonderful bunch of kids.” She sat next to him, curling her legs beneath her, resting her arm on the back of the couch.
“That’s interesting. Your house is beautiful. I studied architecture and the history of homes.”
“I love old homes. There is so much character in them. I often wish walls could talk and tell me what has happened here. This house is pretty much intact from when it was built with the updates needed. Updates such as electrical wires, gas heat, air conditioner, furnace. Could you imagine the lady of the house gliding down the stairs in her long gown as her husband returned from a day of work? The children playing, possibly a housemaid cooking the meals...”
Victor intently listened to her but had enough of watching her lips move. He w
anted to taste them some more. In a fluid motion, he reached out, his hand clasping the back of her neck, bringing her towards him. He moved to her, his mouth covering hers in a long kiss, lingering to lengthen the kiss. Easing slightly away he felt her nibble his lower lip.
“I can’t seem to stop kissing you. I have thought about your lips, mouth since the first time I saw you,” he confessed, looking long into her eyes.
CHAPTER 8
Maren stared at his handsome, serious face. His professed words caught her completely off guard. Her mouth opened to speak but words failed her. Those feelings were inside of her too, especially since the first kiss they shared in her office. He was constantly on her mind. He rubbed his thumb along her jawline, keeping his hand at the back of her neck.
Victor desperately tried to read her expression but couldn’t. Were her emotions uneasiness, worry, the terror of surrendering herself? None or all? He watched as she ever so slowly bit her lower lip and a thoughtfulness crossed her appearance.
“Perhaps I should leave.”
He saw the crooked grin curl her lips and the intense stare as their eyes met, then felt her fingers at his shirt front, tightening her grip. Slowly, smoothly she moved towards him covering his mouth with hers in a desirous demanding lip lock. His arm instinctively wrapped around her waist the other her shoulder as he permits her to ease him onto his back. He felt her legs kick out from beneath her as she lay her lithe figure on him. He slid his hand down her back caressing her hip and thigh. Her moan of pleasure filled the room.
He could feel her body tremble beneath his touch. Slowly his hand moved up her firm thigh to her flat stomach until he covered a full breast. His caress there caused a gasp to escape her mouth and enter his. He moved his lips from hers to trail kisses down her chin to her nuzzle at the base of her neck. Her body arched against him brought on a definite tightness in his pants.
Moans and gasps of pleasure mingled, filling the silence of the room. His arm still held her close while his hand freely roamed over her body learning the womanly curves, sliding over the indents. Her delicious squirms against his body urged him to kiss her exposed neck. Following the sweetheart neckline, his lips trailed kisses towards her cleavage and onto the tops of her breast. His heated lips nuzzled the hardened nipple beneath the material of her dress. He felt her body slightly shift then her hand through his hair holding him in place.
“Oh shit. You make me want to do things,” she gasped.
Victor stopped when he realized what he could easily accomplish tonight with her and knew it was really not the right time. Laying his head back he watched as she looked at him and saw a look of pure wonder in her eyes and a need on her precious face.
“We should probably stop before things get out of control,” Victor stated through a breath.
Maren slowly regained her senses. Did she really almost permit him full access to her body? “I’m sorry. I...I don’t know what came over me except perhaps I’ve been wanting you to touch me all evening.” She felt that damn heat of her blush to cover her face.
“To be truthful, you make me want to do things, too. I don’t want to push you into anything,” he suggested in a hoarse voice. Grasping her upper arms, he eased her away from him. Rubbing his face, he released a long sigh as he sat up next to her.
Maren nodded while reaching for her cup of hot chocolate. She needed something to keep her hands occupied besides wanting to touch him all over.
“Gorgeous, I have a question. It may be stupid, or it may be sincere. I’m not sure, yet.”
“Ask away.”
“Have you ever been with a man?”
Maren stopped her cup in mid-air wondering how on earth did he know? Was she that obvious? Could he tell by her inexperience kisses? Surely her kisses weren’t that terrible. Or perhaps they were. Placing her cup onto the coaster she tipped her head to the left, looking at his face.
“Why do you ask?”
“Something you said earlier at the restaurant about not dating anyone more than once unless you were interested.”
“Oh, that,”
“That.”
Their eyes locked onto each other. Victor patiently waited for an answer. It wouldn’t be too hard to answer, would it? A simple yes or no. He gave her a knowing grin.
Maren saw the briefest hint of a dimple on his cheeks. He better not be making fun of the fact she is a virgin. “Do you find this subject amusing that you’re laughing?”
“Hey, I’m not laughing at you. I think you’re cute.”
Crossing her arms, she lowered her chin and rolled her eyes at him. “Cute,” she repeated the one word.
He nodded, waiting for the bluntness to return and he wasn’t disappointed.
“What happened to gorgeous? What about drop dead gorgeous or sexy head turning babe? I get cute from you. That is so unreal. I mean I’m putting myself out here for you and you even put me off wanting to know such a thing about my past. True, I’m sure it must look like I bring men home with me to do whatever with them but let me be frank with you that I have never ever done anything like this before in my whole life.”
Victor remained silent as her words sunk in. Lifting his chin, he replied, “So then I take that as a no.”
Pausing, Maren simply nodded.
Reaching out he cupped her precious face in his hands, moved closer to press a lingering kiss on her lips. He couldn’t miss her leaning in, returning his kiss. Moving away he muttered, “I guess you don’t know men after all. I better get going. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow, but if not, for sure on Thursday. I’ll get in touch to finalize details.”
Feeling dejected, Maren followed him to the door and waited until he put on his jacket. Checking the pocket for his keys he gave her another look. His touch was gentle when his fingertips eased her face up. Bending he gave her another kiss.
“See you later.”
She nodded as he turned away, closing the door behind him. Her arms crossed from the cold blast that entered the room. Moving closer, she peered out the glass to see snow swirling, beginning to lay. Her body shook from another shiver as she turned away. Plucking her cell phone from her purse, she plopped onto the couch where only moments earlier she was in the arms of a very appetizing man. Obviously, he was a man who knew women and how we think. Her fingers hit Belinda’s number. Instantly she picked up.
“How did it go?” Belinda asked in an excited voice and knowing from her caller I.D. who was calling.
“Ups and downs. The dinner was wonderful, fun.” She related how they danced between the tables with the others watching them. Belinda laughed with her. “We had a wonderful conversation,” Maren grinned when Mr. Whiskers jumped up to sit next to her. Gently she scratched his chin, receiving a loud purr for her troubles.
“All right. All right. That’s all wonderful now let's get down to the juicy parts. Did you guys make out?”
Maren heard the enthusiasm in her voice. “Noooo,” she squealed with disbelief at the notion.
“Why not? Hell, a lot of women have sex on a first date.”
“It was close. Shit, I even threw myself at him and he turned me away. Do you believe it? A man turned down an opportunity to have sex.”
“Hmm, well perhaps it was the over-eagerness that turned him off. Some men like to be dominant. He may be one of those types. He does seem somewhat, I don’t know, above others. I picked that up at work,” Belinda spoke with a valid tone.
“So did I. That’s why I invited him to join me at home for Thanksgiving. I thought since he was transferred here that he didn’t have any place to go and I felt sorry for him. He’s been nothing but caring and concerned with me. Oh, hold on. I’m getting a call.” She pushed the button, placing Belinda on hold. “Hello?”
“Hey, gorgeous.”
At the sound of his voice, Maren felt the instant flutter of her heart. Again, total amazement with the emotions he easily invoked in her.
“Hi Vic,” she gently whispered.
“I wa
nted to thank you again for a wonderful evening. I really enjoyed myself.”
“So did I. I’ve been so embarrassed thinking about this evening. Hey, I’m sorry for making such a total fool of myself tonight,” she hinted, opening the conversation as to why he possibly refused her.
“You weren’t really. It was cute.”
Maren smirked. There’s that word again.
“Well, I’m in my room. I’ll let you go. Good night, Maren,” he ended.
“Good night, Vic.” She pushed the button to return to Belinda.
“I thought you forgot about me,” Belinda complained.
“That was Victor. He called to tell me again that he had a good time.”
“That doesn’t sound like a guy that you scared away,” Belinda snickered.
“Who knows, I suppose. I’m going to get into the shower. Are you coming over tomorrow to help bake cookies?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Good night.”
“Later.” Maren ended the call. Giving her phone a haphazard toss onto the coffee table she remained seated, still petting the purring Mr. Whiskers. “Well, Mr. Whiskers, I guess I just didn’t turn him on. What a night, huh?”
***
Victor laid upon the bed only wearing a pair of black sweatpants, his tumultuous thoughts refusing to let him get to sleep. A pair of dark chocolate eyes surrounded by long dark lashes played with his mind along with a pair of delectable ruby red painted lips. Her smile, her pout, her everything was etched into his memory burning like a fire. The howling of the winds caught his attention. Glancing at the window, the golden glow from a streetlight illuminated the snow swirling.
“Why the hell didn’t I go to the Bahamas?” he growled as his cell phone rang again. Seeing the name on the caller I.D., this time, he answered it. “What Stan.”
Stan blinked at the obvious annoyance he heard. “We are wondering when you’re going to arrive? The ladies are becoming impatient.”
