Rolling onto her back, Marie threw her arms over her head and basked in the warmth that has come from her soft body. The sunlight softly streaming through her room falls on her face and she turned toward it. Stretching, she remembered her night, and him.
He had kissed her softly on the lips, making her melt against him. All night he had stayed near her side. Finally he helped her clean her kitchen after all her friends had left. Jake had leaned in for that soft kiss, and her world had shifted. She inhaled deeply and thought back to those moments after their lips had parted.
He had stood against the counter of her kitchen and smiled at her. His smile melted her almost as much as his kiss had. He had his head down a bit and had looked at her through his lustrous eyelashes, with a mischievous smile on his face. "I liked that. I hope you don't think I'm forward for kissing you, but, Marie, I had to. And I'm glad I did." His eyes flitting over her, noting her blushing cheeks and her quickened breath.
"I liked it too." She had whispered. It had been a long while since she'd had these feelings coursing through her body. She wanted to lean into his body and kiss him, and feel his body against her own. She wanted more than anything to be touched. But she had held back, knowing if it went too fast it would be ruined. The incredible feelings she was feeling flaming up in her would be burned out too quickly.
"Since all your dishes are done, I think I'll head off." He smiled at her. He wanted so badly to hold her and kiss her. But he too knew the all-too-sweet feeling of holding back, of making it last. "I would really like to get together with you again this week. Why don't I call you tomorrow and we'll set something up?" He took her hand and brushed his thumb over her knuckles, softly soothing her.
She had nodded, too overcome by his presence to respond with words. He lifted her hand and gently kissed the palm of her hand, smiled at her and then had left.
Now here she was, her eyes closed, her warm body enfolded in soft sheets and warm blankets, wishing that he was beside her. Wishing more than anything that his hand was on her arm, his legs behind hers, his back buttressing hers. She sighed deeply and threw back the covers, exposing her naked body to the slight chill in the room. Quickly she wrapped her silk robe around her body and made her bed, smoothing the covers, thinking of the time when he might share her bed.
Moving into the bathroom, she relieved herself, and began her shower. Whereas last night she had stopped herself from imagining all those things that could come from being kissed, this morning those pictures raced through her mind. The only difference being she had a face for her male companion. She soaped her body, imagining his hands on her. She washed her hair, imagining him burying his face in the softness of it, nuzzling her neck. She couldn't help it, her mind had been entranced by his kiss. She moved from the shower after washing herself and looked in the mirror.
She saw the glow in her cheeks and eyes. The soft smile on her face was evidence of how she felt. She wanted to be near him, to hear him speak, to see his eyes. She wanted to know this man who had brought this joy and pleasure into her life. She wanted to be part of him and have him never leave. It wasn't as though her life was joyless, or pleasureless, but the difference she felt in herself was astounding. She felt as if she hadn't known what she had been missing. If she let herself get caught up in this, she would find immeasurable joy.
Dressing for her day at school, she thought about him. Realizing how handsome he was, and how desirable, she felt her old friend of uncertainty creep in. It was irrational. He had kissed her, that showed some desire for her on his part, but she still wondered. Would he hurt her? Would he be another typical male? Pain and uncertainty crept in. She wasn't the waif. She wasn't some athletic model type. Would he find her desirable? She just prayed he would.
Her classes and friends at school had kept her busy enough that her thoughts had not been consumed by the kiss. She had been allowed reprieve during the day and was the better for it. The insecurity hadn't worsened, so when she got to her apartment around four o'clock in the afternoon and there was a message on her voice mail from Jake, the heart pounding was accompanied by a blushing grin.
"Hi Marie, this is Jake Harmison. I'm not good at leaving messages, but I wanted to tell you what a wonderful time I had last night. I am glad Marty brought me. I know we just saw each other last night, but I was wondering if I could take you to dinner? If you're busy I completely understand, but I would love your company for another evening. You can reach me on my cell." He left his number and bid her farewell. Now the heart pounding had increased to a full on roar. Her hands were shaking as she picked up the phone and dialed the number.
