Celestial Bodies

Celestial Bodies

by

Tragudis

This story is a follow-up to Inevitable published in Romance, 1/12/2025

It wasn't long after Dean had left Diana's dorm room that her roommate, Julie Buffett, returned from her own date, a first date that didn't go so well. "The guy was arrogant and full of himself," she told Diana. "Didn't dig him at all. Well, nothing gained, nothing lost. Online dating is a hit or miss proposition anyway."

Diana, still wearing the robe she had put on after Dean left, said, "Sorry to hear that. I can relate to bad dates."

Julie had heard about Diana's tales of woe in the dating department. "I know, so you've told me. But from that big smile on your face, not to mention what you're wearing, tells me that your date with that med student wasn't one of your bad dates." Stepping closer, she put her face up to Diana's half-exposed chest. "Oh, my, girl. I know the scent of sex when I smell it."

Diana, sitting on the edge of her bed, legs crossed and exposed, couldn't hold back. "Ohmygod, and WHAT sex! I'm crazy about the guy. Still can't believe it. I never dreamed that a guy like Dean would have the slightest interest in me."

Julie sat on the edge of her own bed, eager to hear more. She wore lose-fitting white slacks, a low-cut, tight-fitting yellow blouse and blue high-top sneakers. "Not to dampen your enthusiasm, but I hope it's more than just the sex. For him, I mean, because I know that it's a lot more for you."

Diana nodded. "He seems to like me, genuinely likes me. The way he made love to me, not just fucked me, tells me that. He's considerate of others. He gave his friend Terry a chance with me until Terry broke our date because he knew that my heart was set on being with Dean. I trust him, Julie, and will until or unless he gives me reason not to."

"Wow, sounds like the kind of guy I'd like to meet," Julie said. She unlaced her sneakers, then kicked them off. "So, I hope you have a follow-up."

"We're going to the Wallflowers concert this weekend. As you know, Terry had asked me and, well, you know the rest of the story."

"I do. I might go to the concert with Bridget, this girl on my field hockey team."

"Good, then you'll get to meet Dean," Diana said, doing her best to hide her feelings of insecurity over how Dean might react meeting her roommate, the beautiful Julie Buffett. Julie was one of those "natural" beauties who didn't need to wear much makeup to enhance her looks. She was beautiful but not "striking." Hers was an understated beauty. She had one of those faces that got prettier the longer one looked. She reminded Diana of actress Claire Fortani when she starred as Brad Pitt's love interest in Meet Joe Black. Like in the movie, her brown hair dropped to her shoulders, with a slight curl at the ends. She had full, sensuous lips, brown eyes and the most perfect nose. She was of average height, same as Diana, but not as slim, more compact, with more up top and legs on the chunky side.

Julie, starting to undress, said, "I'll look forward to meeting him. Does he have a friend I could meet?"

Diana flipped the ends of her robe over her legs. "Well, there's Terry, his roommate."

She said this with a chuckle, leaving Julie to believe that her friend might be joking. "Terry, the guy who took you to Georgetown?"

"Right."

"You said he was kind of goofy."

"He's got an offbeat sense of humor, I'll put it that way. But so do you."

Julie acknowledged as much with a chuckle and a nod.

Diana continued. "But looks-wise, I don't know. From what I've seen, Julie, you go for more conventionally handsome guys. And Terry is far from one of them."

"Dean IS one of them, I take it. Surfer dude hot, like Laird Hamilton, you said. Can't wait to meet him."

"And you will." Diana had mixed feelings about that. She looked forward to "showing off" her hot new boyfriend, while feeling anxious about it at the same time. As she had told Dean, why would he want to be with her when he could get any girl he wanted? Dean had made it clear that Diana was his sole love interest. He sounded sincere. Still, her insecurities kept her from fully trusting him, from fully trusting guys in general. Her problem, not his, she admitted.

*****

Diana had not yet come down from her room when Dean stepped into the lobby of her dorm. He then decided to ring her up. "I'm here."

"Be down in a few minutes."

He folded his cell into the pocket of his jeans and took a seat on one of the few chairs scattered around the room, opposite a girl wearing a short denim skirt, Western style boots and a red, short-sleeve top. Very pretty, he decided, wondering who she was waiting for. When she made eye contact and smiled, he smiled back. Off and on, she kept looking at him, as if maybe she knew him but couldn't place where. Either that or she wanted to flirt.

Finally, she said, "Are you Dean?"

"I am," Dean said, not knowing who the hell she was.

The girl got up, stepped over to him and held out her hand. "I'm Julie, Diana's roommate. The way she described you, I knew it had to be you."

Dean stood up and said, "She thinks I look like Laird Hamilton."

"Yes, well you do," Julie said. "I can picture you on a surfboard."

"You're most likely to see me on a diving board. I'm a competitive diver. "Anyway, I hope the Laird Hamilton reference is a compliment."

"Diana thinks so. And, for the record, so do I."

This girl is more than just pretty, Dean thought, trying to keep himself from flirting with her and failing miserably.

Just then, Diana came down the steps into the lobby. Her excited smile dropped when she saw the two of them face to face. "Well, it looks like you two are already acquainted."

Then Julie said, "I was just telling Dean that I figured it was him by your description, Diana."

Julie was still all googly-eyed when Diana asked, "I guess you're still waiting for Bridget?"

Taking her eyes off Dean, she said, "Yeah, she's in a dorm across campus. Long walk."

"You're going to the concert too?" Dean asked.

"I am, if my friend ever gets here."

Dean then turned to Diana. "Sexy outfit you've got on, girl."

"Thanks, you finally noticed." She flashed him an admonishing look. She wore green shorts, a blue, low-cut top that exposed one shoulder and white sandals.

"See, I told you he'd like it," Julie said.

Diana looked embarrassed when Julie told Dean that Diana thought it might be too "risqué."

"Not for me," he said, feeling her with his eyes. Aware of Diana's insecurities, Dean thought it best to build her up without being pretentious about it. In fact, he really did like her outfit and the way she looked in it.

Moments later, a long-haired blond wearing white cutoff shorts and a red halter top came rushing through the door, breathing hard as if she'd been running. "Whew, I finally made it!" she said between breaths. "Hope I'm not late."

"Relax Bridget, we're got plenty of time," Julie assured her. "Guys, this is Bridget Lewis. We're on the same field hockey team."

"Hi." Bridget, wearing a shy smile, her cheeks still pink from running, held her hand up, waving it from side to side toward Diana and Dean.

Dean tried to look impassive while checking her out. She was pretty enough, but more than that, she possessed, in his eyes, this unique mix of wholesome, prep school politeness and femme fatale seductress that screamed, FUCK ME! Under different circumstances, Dean might have considered doing just that. But not here, not now and not when he was with Diana. After all, he had assured her that she was the only girl who claimed his interest. Don't stare, Dean thought to himself, struggling to tear his eyes away from the field hockey-playing Bridget, keenly aware that he had his work cut out for him not to make his desires known.

He kept that in mind while walking across campus toward the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, side-by-side with Diana, with Bridget and Julie walking just steps in front. While chatting with Diana, he managed to steal glimpses of Bridget's posterior, her adorable, sweet derrière, with its firm butt cheeks flexing with every step, her hair that dropped to her lower back, and then her legs, female athletic-luscious and long enough to wrap around his waist, he'd bet. Oh boy, this could be a long night.

When they got to the 318,000 square foot, twenty-year-old building (new relative to most of the buildings on campus), they split up, separated by several rows of seats in the largest of six venues that could seat over 900 people.

"I've heard they're good," Diana commented, "but I imagine it's not easy for Jacob following in the footsteps of a legend who happens to be his dad."

Dean agreed. "I've seen Jacob in interviews, and not once do I recall him talking about Bob Dylan. I can't blame him for wanting to carve out a separate niche for himself in the music business without hanging onto his father's guitar."

The lights dimmed, the band, five musicians including Jacob, came on and played for close to an hour before taking a breather during the intermission.

Dean went to the men's room and when he emerged, he came face to face with Bridget Lewis who had just come out of the lady's room.

She giggled and said, "Well, I guess we had the same idea at the same time."

"Huh huh, I guess we did," he said. "Are you a Wallflowers fan?"

"I am. I have Bringing Down the Horse, one of their early albums. It was exciting to hear Sixth Avenue Heartache live."

"One of their hits, I guess."

"One of their biggest."

Speaking of excitement, he was feeling plenty of it looking at this girl as people walked back and forth over the green carpet in the area between the theater and the lobby. He sensed that the attraction went both ways. He knew he shouldn't be thinking that, but he felt pulled by this irresistible force called lust, perhaps one of the least complicated states of being among the human species, of which he was just one of billions that no doubt were feeling the same thing as he stood there and lusted while the seconds passed and another girl was waiting for him just yards away.

Bridget bent over and pulled at the hem of her cutoffs, while watching him, her mouth open in the most sensuous way, then breaking into a smile. She had beautiful white teeth on top of everything else. "So, Julie tells me you're a competitive diver."

"She got that from Diana, I suppose."

"Yeah, she said that you guys just started dating."

"We did."

"Exclusively?"

Dean wasn't sure where she was going with this. "We're not seeing anyone else, if that's what you mean."

"Here's what I mean. Let's say you met someone that lit your fire. Would you then be free to date that person?"

If this wasn't a come-on, then Dean had never seen one. "I suppose so. This is only our second date." He looked around, noticed that people were headed back to their seats.

Bridget also took notice. "Yeah, we better get back. Listen, I don't want to wreck anything between you and Diana, assuming there's anything serious to wreck. But if you want my number, I'll be more than happy to give it to you. I won't lie, I think you're hot. And you, um, seem to fancy me too, as the Brits might say."

Dean drew a "guilty" grin. "You noticed, huh."

"It was kind of obvious. Not to be conceited, but I'm no stranger to male attention."

"Oh, I believe that." After a brief hesitation, he took out his cell and punched her number into it. "Later," he said, not really knowing what later meant.

When he returned to his seat, Diana asked, "Do you have diarrhea or something? You were gone for a day and a half."

"No, I ran into Bridget outside the restrooms. We talked a little about the group. She's got one of their albums."

"I see."

Diana didn't say anything else, but Dean got the sense that she suspected he was holding back. Or maybe he was just feeling guilty about taking down Bridget's number. Either way, he wasn't sure what he was going to do. Maybe he'd save it for Terry, a thought which almost got him laughing out loud. The last time he "saved" a girl's number for Terry, it was Dean who ended up with the girl, a one Diana Lehman. He wasn't sure if Bridget would go for Terry anyway and vice versa. Well, he didn't think that Terry would go for her personality, at least from what little he had observed. Physically, Dean could see Terry drooling over the sexy Bridget the way Dean himself had done. Such thoughts faded in and out of his mind as he waited for the band to come back onstage for their second set.

Meanwhile, Julie was just as curious about why it took so long for Bridget to return. "That must have been some bowel movement. Or are you constipated?"

Bridget laughed. Then she said, "None of the above. I was talking with Dean by the restrooms. Do you think he's as hot as I do?"

Julie didn't hold back. "He's a gorgeous hunk of manhood, I admit. Diana got lucky."

"So, are they like, serious?"

"Depends on what you mean by serious. She's SERIOUSLY crazy about him after only two dates. Why?"

"Because he took down my phone number."

"What?!"

"Look, please don't tell Diana. He didn't ask for it, I asked him if he wanted it."

"Oh, jeeze. Guys, they're all alike. The power of the penis never ceases to amaze me."

"I know what you mean. But let's not underestimate the power of the pussy either."

Julie laughed loud enough for the people in front to turn around. Then she said, "You have a point."

"And come on, Julie, it's not like Dean and Diana are an item, not on a second date. In so many words, he told me they were free to see other people. He probably won't call me anyway. If he does, Diana will find out that way. Assuming he tells her. So, until then, can you keep this just between you and me?"

Julie shook her head. "Yeah, I guess so." She sighed. "I wish you hadn't told me because now I feel almost obligated to give her a head's up. I'd hate to see her get hurt."

"I don't want that either. Like I told Dean, I'm not out to wreck anything, and I'm leaving it up to him to determine if there's anything serious to wreck. He's got my number. The ball, as we say, is in his court."

"Okay, I'll keep my mouth shut for now, if for no other reason than this is one tennis game I'd prefer to stay out of."

*****

And that's the way things stood when Jacob Dylan and his band mates came out for their second set. When the concert was over, Diana and Dean met Bridget and Juliana in the lobby. "They're fine musicians," Dean said to no one in particular.

"I was telling Dean that I have one of their albums," Bridget said to Diana.

"So he told me," Diana said.

Dean lowered his eyes when Bridget smiled at him and winked.

Julie noticed and shot Bridget an admonishing stare.

Diana bounced her eyes between the other three, sensing something was amiss. When she focused on Dean, he said, "Well, I guess we'll be on our way. To where I'm not sure." He then grabbed Diana's hand and rushed out of the building into the balmy night.

Moments later, Diana asked, "Why is everyone acting so weird all the sudden?"

"Weird? Weird how?"

Diana let go of Dean's hand and stopped. "Don't tell me you didn't sense the weird vibe between Julie and Bridget and perhaps you as well. You couldn't get away from them fast enough. Is there something going on that I should know about?"

Dean could only hope that Bridget didn't say anything to Julie about the encounter during intermission. But she might have, given those pregnant looks. "So far as I know," he said, "there's nothing going on." He knew she didn't buy it, but he didn't think it was either the time or place to explain. Drama for drama's sake wasn't for him. Desperate to change the subject, he said, "Look, I have an idea. Terry went home for the weekend, which means we have all the privacy we need. Want to?"

Diana sighed, looking up at him with a mix of joy and apprehension. "You know I want to because you know how I feel about you. Just be honest with me, okay. That's all I ask."

Dean wrapped his arms around her. "Yes, of course." He felt like a cad saying those words, even though, technically, he hadn't yet cheated on her. Would it do any good to "come clean" and tell her about taking down Bridget's phone number? He didn't think so because he might not call her in the first place. And anyway, he and Diana had made no "pact" not to see anyone else. It was only their second date, for chrissakes.

*****

"Oh, I like this," Diana said after stepping into Dean's off campus apartment. "It's a palace compared to my stuffy dorm room."

"A two-bedroom no less," Dean said. "Yeah, it's definitely an improvement over the dorms."

After Dean gave her a brief walk-through, he went to the small kitchen, poured two classes of white wine from the fridge, and then joined Diana on the sofa. She took a sip, then turned sideways, facing Dean. "So, Terry's out for the night?"

He nodded. "He goes home about every other weekend. Leaves Friday and then returns late Sunday afternoon."

"How's he doing? I mean, after we started seeing each other."

"Emotionally, I suppose he's moved on." Dean chuckled. "I offered to be his wing man again, but I think he's through with trying to act like a pick-up artist."

"You know, I had considered introducing him to Julie. But, as I told her, that wouldn't exactly be an ideal match. But what about Bridgit?"

Uh-oh. "Bridget?"

"Huh huh. She's blond and cute with a body to match, and what guy doesn't go for blond and cute with a bod like Bridget's? I mean, I saw you checking her out."

"Um, well, er--"

"Hey, it's okay. You're a guy, I get it. I'm not jealous. As far as her personality, I just met her tonight, so I have no idea. But, you never know. She and Terry might be a good match. Thoughts?"

Dean had thoughts, all right, best kept to himself in front of present company. "Well, I don't know. Looks-wise, yeah, I don't think Terry would be disappointed. But like you, I don't really know her."

"Other than she's a Wallflowers fan."

"Right, other than that." Dean, resting his wine glass on his lap, emitted a nervous laugh.

He thought it best to turn the conversation in another direction, and he started by sliding closer to her, then placing his glass on the coffee table. Gently, he wrapped a hand around her wrist, motioning for her to do the same. Then he kissed her, pulled back and said, "You've got quite a nice bod yourself, you know." He ran his hands over her smooth, pale legs, becoming aroused in the process.

She rested her arms on his shoulders. "I'm glad you think so, and happy beyond words that you want to be with me."

Not much was said after they fell into each other's arms and then took their desire into Dean's bedroom. Bridget was still on his mind but not for long as he managed to tuck those thoughts away, at least for now. Love the one you're with, as the song went, and Dean had no trouble following that sage advice--pleasuring Diana with the same exciting, tongue-licking oral he gave her last time and then being pleasured in return. Diana surprised him with the deft way she worked her lips around his cock. "I thought you were too shy to do this," he said.

From her place on the floor, her legs folded under her, and with Dean sitting on the edge of the bed, she looked up said, "I'm shy in other ways, but not when it comes to this." Indeed.

She brought him to the edge of climax, then joined him on the bed, spread her beautiful legs and then guided him into her. "You don't feel as tight as you did last time," he said.

"I guess not," she said, "not with that thick appendage of yours expanding me."

Chuckling, he said, "I'm breaking you in, so to speak?"

"So to speak. Just don't break my heart."

Dean's expression turned serious. Once again, thoughts turned to that 'blond and cute' girl whose phone number he had burned into his cell.