"Hey..." Dwayne whispered softly, and Elizabeth felt his hand slowly moving up the length of her arm. Where was she? She wondered dimly, not really caring about the answer. She didn't care about anything. She didn't need to. Everything was just perfect the way it was. The feel of his long fingers against the skin of her arms. It was heaven. She blinked a little, feeling her face on smooth, warm leather. His chest...she was sat down, nestled against him. She knew it, she had to be. It was a comfort she had never know, she just felt so enveloped by him.
Safe, warm.
Tired.
Perfect.
She sighed and snuggled closer.
"Elizabeth.." he murmured quietly, his lips brushing the top of her head. She felt his kiss, "...wake up"
She didn't want to.
Another kiss, "..come on, baby.."
She smiled at his words, warmth of a different, new and exciting kind spreading in her lower stomach.
Taking a deep breath as consciousness slowly, sluggishly came back to her, she weakly pushed her head up.
She was rewarded with another kiss, a gentle peck on her forehead.
She smiled, closing her eyes.
"We have to get you to your house..."
"Home?"
"Your house" he corrected, letting his fingers dance down the side of her arm again.
She sighed and nodded, hating herself for doing so. She didn't want to leave. Sitting up a little more, she looked at her surroundings and found that she was on his bike, she must have been sleeping solidly against his chest.
"Oh.." she whispered, realization dawning upon her, wakefulness fully meeting her.
Flushing a deep red and she pulled back a little.
He laughed lightly and steadied her body, his strong arm around her waist, keeping her close, "don't fall off.."
She had been so absorbed in him, she must have pulled herself close, buried her head into his chest...
She had never been so..so intimate with someone. It was a beautiful, strange feeling.
She blinked and looked around.
They were tucked away on the side of a drive...her drive.
Full clarity returning, she smiled up at him, still a little befuddled and confused, "I fell asleep?"
He nodded, "..you were pretty high" he explained, watching her closely. He was smiling lightly, a genuine, fond twitch of his lips and she found herself wanting to return to her previous position, to sleep soundly in his arms once more, forward though it was.
"I'm sorry.."
He carefully pushed his body off his bike, elegantly, easily with an inquiring, "Why?"
"I must have really been out of it.." she laughed a little, embarrassed and tired but feeling good all the same.
His hands were on her arms and she allowed him to gently, softly guide her off his bike.
It must have been difficult for him to drive them back with her sleeping like that, "was I annoying?"
"Not in a million years" he replied, watching as she stood.
She smiled at his words.
She couldn't remember much. She remembered smoking, laughing with the boys, with Dwayne.
God, she was so happy. She could remember that, but she couldn't remember anything concrete, nothing about how the night ended.
"Did I embarrass myself?"
He shook his head and she bit her lip, stifling her relieved smile.
"In no way whatsoever did you embarrass yourself" he confirmed, his deep voice steady, "did you have fun?"
"I had the best time" she promised, cracking another small smile.
She couldn't remember the fine details, but she knew she'd had a wonderful night.
She could feel it. Hell, she still felt it.
"You're OK?" he asked carefully.
She looked down at herself, resisted the urge to press herself close to him once more and shook her head.
She laughed a little at his question. What a silly question it was, "I'm more than OK, I had an amazing time..it..really. It was amazing..."
Dwayne stepped forward and cupped her face with his hand, brushing her cheek with his thumb.
Sinking her face into his solid, comforting hand, Elizabeth's eyes fluttered closed, "you're sure I didn't embarrass myself?"
"Not at all"
She opened her mouth to speak before being taken by surprise and moving to cover the yawn that managed to sneak its way up.
She was tired, she wasn't used to being such a night owl.
She shook her head in disappointment, fighting down yet another yawn.
He laughed, "Come on. I'll walk you to your door" he retracted his hand which had fallen comfortingly to her shoulder and instead opened his arm. She smiled at the silent invitation and moved towards him, allowing his arm fall around her, letting him pull her close.
She felt like that was where she belonged, next to him, with him.
How had she only known him a few short days?
Elizabeth let herself rest against him as they walked up the drive, feeling content, sleepy.
The house was dark.
She fished her key from her bag, slipping it into the door.
As she peered into the black hallway, she called out quietly, "Sammy? Grandpa?"
There was no answer.
Dwayne waited patiently behind her and she stepped in, glancing at the bowl that housed everyone's keys.
It was empty.
"Nanook?" she called.
There was nothing, no thud, no movement.
"My Grandpa must have gone somewhere..." Elizabeth told Dwayne, turning to face him. It wasn't unusual, Grandpa was the epitome of a free agent.
"Nanook?"
"Sam's dog.." she told him with a smile, frowning a little as she did. The twinges of a headache were starting to form, or maybe it was just her body's way of reminding her they were entering the early hours of the morning.
"Headache?" Dwayne checked, as if he knew exactly what she was feeling. He stopped and peered at her with concern from the doorway.
"A small one, maybe.." she felt tired, now, like she could just collapse in bed but it was a satisfying kind of exhaustion, "I'm just sleepy.."
She shrugged. She didn't want to let it put an end to their date.
Coffee. Maybe she should drink a gallon of-
"-you need water" Dwayne prescribed, "you barely had any liquids tonight, I'm sorry-"
She shook her head, all thoughts of forcing energy through caffeine gone, "that was all on me"
He looked at her with concern again.
"Do...do you want to come in?" Elizabeth nervously asked as she opened the door fully.
"You're inviting me in?"
"Yes.." she blushed, stepping aside to let him cross the threshold.
He did, planting a caring kiss against her lips as he did.
She beamed with delight.
"Uh, the kitchen's this way.." she mumbled, pointing to its general vicinity. She had never invited a date into her house before, she wasn't sure what the next step should be, what she should do. She moved to turn on the light, fully intending to walk him to the kitchen but he was already ahead of her, moving steadily and surely.
She loved his powerful confidence, the way he was so sure about himself, about-
"-oh, did you change your shirt?" Elizabeth asked in confusion, tilting her head a little.
He was wearing a black, simple t-shirt, his necklaces and accessories were gone..she was positive he had been wearing a white tank earlier in their date.
Hadn't he?
She followed him to the kitchen.
"Hmm?" Dwayne asked, his attention drawn away from the lamp resting beside the towel rack near the sink. It was one of Grandpa's unique creations, it's base a buffalo skull mounted on a wooden disc. He had turned it on, dimly lighting the room.
"Your shirt?"
"Oh yeah..I spilled…"
She laughed a little, rubbing her tired eyes. What else would it have been?
"Your brothers usually stay out this late?" Dwayne asked as he looked around the walls of the kitchen. There was the protective edge to his voice again, and she felt excitement flutter in her stomach.
She shook her head, no. She had briefly wondered where Sam was but she couldn't say she was overly surprised by Michael's lateness. Besides, she was too happy, too tired to think about her brothers right now, though she did have a twinge of unease when she realized that Michael would have a lot to say to Sammy if he knew he was still out.
"Sam went to see a movie" she explained briefly, blinking as Dwayne handed her a glass filled with water.
"Drink it" he told her, watching her closely, "..for your head.."
He was so..commanding, so strong..so protective...
"Oh, yeah.." she blinked and nodded, taking a sip.
It did feel good. She drank some more as he studied her.
"I'm sorry" she swallowed, "I'm terrible, did you want a drink? There's uh…cola and..?" she trailed off, not even sure what was in the fridge. Grandpa and Sammy ate and drank so much, so often there was no consistency with its contents.
"I'm fine" he said, rejecting the drink with a smile, "I just wanted to see you home safely..keep drinking"
She followed his instructions, downing the water with surprising ease.
She really must have needed it.
He gently took the empty glass from her hands, placing it into the sink.
"You're OK?"
She nodded.
"No headache?"
"No..the water did the trick"
She bit her lip, looking at his body.
"Dwayne..I..thank you for tonight.." she said with a smile, "..for everything"
The cuckoo clock ticked steadily on the wall.
He shook his head, "it was my pleasure...really.."
"Are you hungry?" she offered.
"I should probably go before your brother gets home..." Dwayne said, looking like he didn't want to leave at all.
They smiled at each other, stood in the dull light of the kitchen.
She had to fight off the disappointment she was feeling.
That was the last thing she wanted him to do but he was right. Sammy, Grandpa..anyone could suddenly come home.
She opened her mouth but had no defense.
She nodded.
There didn't seem to be anything left to say.
Her hands were a little damp from the glass and she moved by him to dry them on one of the many, many towels Grandpa had hoarded near the sink. She just wanted something to do, a reason to be near him.
A reason to delay their inevitable separation.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Elizabeth asked, looking down into the sink as she dried her hands unnecessarily. She was afraid to turn and look at him, afraid to look into his eyes.
She didn't know what she would say if she met those deep, stormy eyes...but she did know that she had to see him again.
She knew how pathetic and hopeful she sounded, but she just had to.
Upon hearing the hope, the longing in her voice Dwayne took one fluid step to the side, standing behind her, tall and strong. She could feel him..
She took a breath, wondering how perfectly he seemed fit against her...
"Elizabeth..." his hand was on her elbow and she allowed herself to be turned..
He pulled her into a deep kiss.
As his body pressed hers against the kitchen sink, Elizabeth let her hands roam his face, through his hair. That blooming headache was well and truly gone and she didn't feel tired anymore, she felt alive.
With Dwayne, everything was a whirlwind of emotions.
He pulled away softly, eliciting a disappointed moan from her.
"Of course you'll see me tomorrow" he said, huskily against her reddened and slightly swollen lips.
"I-" she paused to catch her breath. She wanted him to stay. She blushed, hands cupping his neck, when she realized how wet she was, how badly she wanted him. They were so close, their legs entwined, their chests pressed together...how had she been so exhausted just a moment before?
Gently, Dwayne kissed her forehead, the tip of her nose and placed one feather soft kiss on her lips.
"Do you have to go?" she asked in a whisper, blushing softly once more.
The cold from the tiles of the kitchen counter, from the porcelain sink was seeping through her jeans but his body, still pressed flush against hers was soft yet firm, comforting, warm.
She almost felt drunk with need.
How could she feel this way? How could she move so fast?
He massaged her hip softly, his other hand moving over her to follow the line of her waist and her eyes fluttered closed at the motion.
"Your brothers will probably be back soon" he whispered, leaning his forehead down to rest against hers.
She nodded almost imperceptibly.
He was right.
"I'll pick you up tomorrow.." he stated, pulling back to look at her.
She nodded immediately.
She felt those familiar butterflies explode in her stomach, fluttering wildly, dancing in ecstasy at the promise tomorrow night held.
She knew without a doubt what would happen..
With a small sigh, she nodded and they separated.
Elizabeth slowly and reluctantly led Dwayne to the door once again.
"Dwayne-" she began, her words falling into nothingness.
Was she crazy? She'd never felt this way before, never had a boy made her feel so wonderful. But no, it wasn't just that...Dwayne made her feel more than just wonderful. Wonderful felt like such a weak word when she compared to how she was feeling.
When she was with him, she felt like she could fly.
But, she'd only just met him. It was too fast.
Was it too fast? Was…was she in love? Could she be in love? Was that what was happening? There were just so many-
"-I feel it too" he assured her, surprising her out of her confused thoughts.
Looking into her eyes, he said it again with an honest seriousness, "I feel it too, Elizabeth"
He gave her one final, deep kiss.
She trusted him.
Looking at him, she knew with utter certainty that whatever she felt, however fast, however wild was true.
It was real, it was sincere and he was feeling it too.
"Tomorrow" he promised.