Four
I laid the blanket down by the back edge, wishing the dim lights above us were the stars. She sat down, folding her knees, and straightened her dress. I sat opposite as she started to unpack her bag. She drew out a square package and two plastic boxes.
I was opening the wine as she got to her knees to lay things out. The package was sandwiches with a box of savouries and iced pastries. Then she reached through to take the hem and pull it forward. Pushing the front of her skirt down between her legs she pulled the hem of the front up and sat down, bringing her legs around to sit cross legged.
Her skirt had ridden up to mid thigh, showing off her long legs. I looked back to the wine, pouring half a glass each and passed her hers. I wanted to speak but felt tongue tied, racing through normal topics.
"Ah, I've got the books if you want," I said, leaning to one side as I pulled the thumb drive from my pocket. "My father say's we're probably better turning them over to Earth to analyse. We don't have the expertise here."
"Did you read any?"
"I tried to read a bit but there were missing words where he couldn't translate. It might be one where I wait for the film."
She dropped it in her bag. "I'll have a look later."
With the ice broken we talked more about ourselves, eating the cucumber and tomato sandwiches and nibbling on the savouries. Whilst we were talking of school she almost brought up her boyfriend. At the next pause I asked her about boyfriends.
"Rumour has reached my ear about your past boyfriends; I'm not bothered by them," I added hastily, looking straight into her face.
She looked at me studiously, leant back on her arms
"You say you love me now..." she began.
"I do," I protested.
"Let me finish. I know this sounds cold but I want to love the man who loves me. You've made a good start. I like you, I like you a lot. I want to find someone, that someone special, I want to love and be loved. We'll both know each other better in three months. Believe me, if you're the one, then I won't be letting you go."
I was very tempted to ask Vinnie about her emotions. I was happy to have the chance to be with her. As soon as she got to know me better I was sure she'd love me as I loved her. Our love would bond us. I wanted her for the rest of my life as well.
"I know I love you, I'll love you forevermore, I'll love you till there's no more love left in me and you'll possess my heart forever," I professed.
"We'll see. Now, are we going sit opposite one another all night?" She straightened up and held out her hand.
I got to my knees and scrambled over. She lied back and I lied down next to her. As I half turned, she shifted over to cuddle up to me, slipping an arm around me. I took her in my arms and just lied there, feeling happy just holding her.
After a short while she stirred. "Do you know how to kiss?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Show me," she asked, moving and pushing me onto my back to lie across my chest.
As she brought her face to mine I took her cheeks in my hands and raised my head to meet her lips. I kissed her gently till she took the lead by slipping her tongue though my lips. The kiss got more passionate as she hugged me and my hands caressed her hair.
She broke the kiss and just lied across me while I smoothed her hair. I felt happy, deliriously so, with her draped quietly half across me. I could have lain there all night, her warm body hugged close, the silky feel of her hair, the press of her breasts on my chest. I wanted it to never end.
She slowly pushed herself up.
"Next time you'll have to pick somewhere more comfortable," she said, smiling.
"Next time," I said, savouring the idea. "You can pick where. I've been set free. I can walk you home if you want."
She leant back in and kissed me. "Let's get going then."
We packed away all the stuff. I dropped the bottle and glasses in the kitchen and we were out of through the front door. I was doubly happy, happy to be free and happy to be hand in hand with Rose.
We walked slowly, not saying much but squeezing hands and exchanging smiles and glances. We kissed at her front door and I wandered home remembering the kiss and not caring for anything else in the world.
I waited for her in the morning, getting a chaste kiss at the door and a more loving embrace when she put her bag down in the lounge.
"Wait," she said, holding me off from a kiss. "We're here to work."
"Just a little one," I pleaded.
Her resistance dropped. "Just a quick one then."
Before she could say another word my lips were on hers, my spirit soaring as she opened her mouth and our tongues touched. I hugged her tight and made the kiss last a minute or more till she broke it.
"Alright, work first," she said, smiling at me as she freed herself.
"Okay," I said resignedly.
I went and sat on the settee while she set up the camera, my eyes following her, worshiping her as she moved around. When she was ready she looked over to me. "I'll get the stool from the kitchen, okay?"
"Yes," I said, sitting up straight. "I'll get it if you want."
"No, it's alright," she said, already on her way to the door.
"Sorry, should have remembered," I said as she disappeared through the door.
I lay back, half thinking of her, half thinking of the Q&A session, Vincent hovering behind my shoulder. She carried the stool back. As she put it down and moved to sit on it she caught the leg of the tripod.
It tumbled towards me as the leg nearest me slipped off the table. I jumped to catch it and as I did I was seeing through a sparkling film over my eyes. The camera bounced away six inches from my hands.
Rose grabbed it, almost overbalancing as her eyes widened, pulling it back upright mechanically. My heart was pounding at my first taste of Vincent's defences. Did he think the camera would hurt me? Rose was even more astounded.
"What happened to you?" she asked, staring at me.
"I think Vinie took a hand. Protected me. I saw sparkling dots, like a film over my eyes. Some kind of force field, I think."
"That's what you looked like, some special effect from a film, like your body was replaced by a sparkly black curtain." She was walking around the table, still looking strangely at me. "When you said guardian I somehow imagined stunners or something. That was like full body armour space suit or something."
She reached out and touched my arm, a brief brush of the fingers on my bicep.