He pulls over tothe side of the road in front of the bakery. I reach for my purse and stare atmy keys inside.
I look over at him.“Are you … staying longer?” I ask. “I mean, like … want to come to myapartment?”
He grins. “Only ifyou want me.”
“I do.”
“Then yes.”
I reach for my keysand then stop. “I don’t really want to drive home,” I admit. I move my hands tothe air between us and make a pouting face. “I don’t want to stop being nearyou.”
He chuckles. “Sodon’t leave. Just tell me where to go.”
I bite my lip anddrop my purse to the floor. My apartment is pretty close to Main Street, sowe’re there in no time. Gabe walks beside me as I head up the concrete stairsthat lead to my second story apartment. Mentally, I’m scanning through myplace, hoping I left it clean before I went to work today. Has it really onlybeen a few hours since I left this morning? Everything has changed since then.
I unlock my frontdoor and these tingles of giddiness flow through me because Gabe is standingright behind me. How many nights have I come home from a long day of work onlyto open this door alone and slink into depression as soon as I hit the bed?Those nights are over. I hope.
We walk inside andI’m grateful to see that there’s no stray bras or dirty dishes lying around. Myplace is pretty clean. When I’m sad I tend to clean, and I’ve been pretty sadlately.
“So this is myplace,” I say. I walk across the room and turn on the lamp in the living room,which will cast a softer glow than the harsh light overhead.
“Cute,” Gabe says.He gives a nod of appreciation as he looks over my place. “And colorful.”
I walk up and putmy hands on his chest. “So how long can you stay?”
“As long as youwant me.”
Forever and ever,I think. “Well, good. Can you watch TV or something for like fifteen minutesbecause I absolutely have to shower. It’s bad enough that I went on a date withyou in my work clothes, but, yeah, I need to get the smell of kitchen off me.”
“You smellwonderful,” he says.
I kiss him. “Good. Keepup those lies … I like them.”
He smacks my buttplayfully as I shimmy off to my bedroom and close the door. I make the waterhot and I put my hair in a bun so it won’t get wet. My hair is so long andthick that it takes an hour to dry, and I’m not about to waste that kind oftime when Gabe is here. Plus I washed it this morning so it’s still clean. Isoap every inch of my body with my expensive Lush soap so that I’ll smell likea flower. I shave every inch that needs to be shaved, and then I get out andsearch my closet for something sexy to wear. I own a ton of cute dresses andtops, but not exactly many cute items of lingerie. I know I’m overweight, so Inever venture into those stores anyway. But Gabe has seen my body and he likesit. So I need something. I can’t just walk back out there in leggings and anoversized T-shirt like I’d normally wear.
I stare at thecontents of my closet as the seconds tick by. I’m trying to be as fast aspossible so he won’t get bored and want to leave. Then my eyes land onsomething I forgot I owned. A dark purple silk robe from France. It was late atnight a few years ago, and I’d been watching a TV show where the two hoststraveled around to beautiful places. I longed so bad to travel, and when the TVshow hosts went into a silk shop and looked at the robes, I’d gone online andordered one for myself. I just had to have a piece of France, even if I wouldnever wear it. My fingers slide down the soft silk, adorned with lace. It’selegant and beautiful and cost over two hundred dollars. I slide it off thehanger and hold it up to my naked body as I look at the mirror. It’s sobeautiful I think it might hide my flaws just because no one would notice themunder the gorgeous purple silk.
I slip it on, andthen debate on wearing underwear or not. My nipples poke through the thinfabric, and I have to admit, I look pretty damn hot as is. So I brush my hairand then sweep it over my shoulder, and then I take one big courageous breathand step out into the living room.
Gabe’s watching TV,but he looks over when he hears my door open. He freezes, and I’m pretty surethat’s a good sign. I want to run back into my room and dive into the closetand not resurface until I’m fully clothed. But I won’t. I won’t give into myinsecurities tonight. I want to finish what we started in that hotel room.
“Holy shit,” Gabesays. He goes to stand up, but I hold out my hand.
“Sit.”
He swallows andpromptly sits back down. I do my best version of a sexy saunter as I make myway over to him, and the way his eyes roam over my body tells me I’m probablydoing a good job.
I walk over untilI’m standing directly in front of him on the couch. He sits forward and slideshis hand up my bare thigh, leaving a trail of goosebumps over my freshly shavedskin. My heart is pounding, but I want this more than my insecurities. I givehim a sultry grin and reach up and pull the silk band that ties around mywaist. The robe slides open, giving him a peak at my bare breasts, and all theskin down to my toes.
The look he givesme sends a warm jolt of pleasure straight through me. The robe has totallyworked. “Take them off,” I say, nodding toward his jeans.
“Yes, ma’am,” hedrawls as he quickly unzips and removes his pants.
I move forward andcrawl on his lap, my knees straddling him on the couch. His eyes meet mine.“Damn, you’re beautiful,” he whispers as he takes my head and pulls my neck tohis lips. I close my eyes and let him kiss the sensitive flesh all the way downto my breasts. I retrieve the condom I’d put in my pocket before leaving myroom, and hand it to him.
“You sure?” hesays.
“Mhm,” I say with anod as I bend forward and kiss his neck.
