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“Me and you, we are a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode. You awaken all these feelings inside me when you touch me. I can barely think straight. This was just meant to be a phony relationship for the public, but where exactly do we draw the line?”
I was barraged by an onslaught of emotions seeing the torturous look on her face. I knew what she was asking, but I was afraid to even consider it – Never did let myself imagine a lifetime with her, or any woman for that matter.
“Sophie...” I began drawing closer, but she held a hand up.
“Don’t... Don’t kiss me again, please.”
“I wasn’t going to. You’re right, we’re getting too involved with each other. It would be best to draw the line here. I won’t kiss you again until you initiate it yourself.”
Shestaredat me with a painedlook, I could tell how hard it was for her, and I silently cursed myself for putting her in this position. If I never kissed her that night, we wouldn’t have been in this situation where we have to keep up appearances. Silently, I vowed not to make her more uncomfortable than I have.
“The bathroom is the door by your left, once you’re done you can join me on the patio, the food has been set out.”
Watching her carefully, she hobbled on one foot, silently refusing my help until she got to the bathroom. Then I heard the click of a lock. The next few days were going to be real difficult.
We ate the food in silence. On her return after spending half an hour in the bathroom, she’d avoided my eyes. After eating, Sophie disappeared into her room. I cursed my eyes for lingering on her ass.
My mouth watered, and it wasn’t because of the sumptuous dishes before me. Damn! What was it about her that made me want to devour and please her? I could easily see myself strutting and doing everything possible to get her to see me once our little arrangement was over.
You’re a womanizer.
Yup, I needed to change my thinking or the images in my head would be teleported to hers, and I was sure that it would offend her sensibilities. It inflamed me just thinking about it, and if there was something I’d figured out about this woman so far, it was the fact that she read me like an open book.
* * *
She came out sometime later by midday.
“I’m going for a walk on the beach, want to join?” I asked her in a practiced offhand manner.
“Sure,” she said.
I felt a small jolt of pleasure run through my body when she said yes. I kicked my feet off the coffee table and jumped up with a burst of energy.
She disappeared briefly to get a cloth to drape around her shoulders, and then reappeared at her door, purse in hand, light jacket over her shoulders. Her hair was down and flowing over her back, I avoided staring too much so she wouldn’t be uncomfortable.
Chivalry sucked.
The sun was out in full glare as we stepped out of the door. I picked up two sodas from the bar before leaving because of how hot it was. Strangely, the walk was easy and comfortable. Sophie lost most of that tensed air as soon as we emerged under the open skies, I could almost hear her breathe a sigh of relief.
Chuckling to myself. I wondered what she was scared of most – My reputation or the fact that she didn’t trust herself around me.
Across the street was an open-air bar, one where the walls were artfully designed with sheets of plastic and a sizeable number of patrons filled the seats. “Should we try it out?” I asked.
“Might as well.”
We ordered the house recommendation. Something rum infused that tasted a bit too fruity for my liking. Sophie seemed to love it though. A three–piece jazz band was playing in the corner. Their music was loud enough to keep whispered conversations outside, but soft enough to talk normally inside.
“I assume this is nothing like what you’re used to?” Sophie asked me.
“What do you mean?”
She waved her hand airily, “Long walks, rum dates. I’m sure you’ve never had to put serious effort into getting a woman, seeing that they practically throw themselves at you.”
I wondered if I should get offended. She had all but called me a playboy twice, probably quoting one of those silly magazines that over sensationalized and printed lies about my life. But I couldn’t blame her. I’d all but acted as one these past few days.
“On the contrary, I’ve gone to quite a few remarkable dates. But just as you said, they weren’t even ready to see me put in serious effort. The sex was a priority, it always has been.”
She blushed a deep crimson, and I smiled grimly in satisfaction.Touché.
