I wake up to golden sun light beaming into the spacious bedroom. Golds, tiffany blues, and dark woods all over the room light up in beautiful harmony. I stretch as I wake up and swing my legs over the edge of the bed facing the big floor to ceiling windows. I smile as I look out over the light snow that has started to fall. "Hmmm snow. This should be fun." I say to myself as I get up and walk over to the windows. Turning around to grab my robe I see a cup of coffee, an almost black rose (so red it's almost black), and a note.
Good morning beautiful. I got in earlier than I expected. So I made breakfast. See you soon.
A
I smile to myself, grabbing my cup of coffee and look around the room to see a medium sized brown leather suitcase. Hmmm must be his. I think as I stroll out the room and down the stairs. I can smell eggs, pancakes, and bacon as I descend the stairs and make my way to the kitchen. I push open the door slightly so that I can peek inside the kitchen. As I do, my breath hitches in my throat, as I see a beautiful man standing in front of the stove cooking. He's dressed in a green, yellow, and blue flannel shirt, faded blue jeans, and Justin work boots. He looks so delicious. I stand there for a minute just taking the sight of him in.
"Come on breakfast is almost done." He says looking up from the stove top as I walk in. He puts down the spatula and wraps his arms around me as I walk up to him. "You look cute when you sleep you know that." He says as he places a kiss on my head.
I flush scarlet red as I wrap my arms around him and hug him close to me. I nuzzle my head into his chest and take a deep breath inhaling his woodsy scent. God this man smelled so good. "You know Mary is probably going nuts not knowing what's going on between us." I say as I let go and take a sip of my coffee. I walk over to a stool that is at the breakfast bar and take a seat watching the master work.
"Yes she probably is. John asked me last night what was going on between us." Turning back to the griddle flipping the last of the pancakes.
"So what did you tell him?"
"I told him that I didn't know." He pauses and looks at me as he sets the hot pancakes out on the counter with the rest of the good. "What should I tell him? Better question. What are we?" He asks his face going hard. He fixes me a plate and sets in front of me and then he fixes himself a plate and sits down next to me.
"I was hoping to just avoid putting a label on this but honestly I don't know what to call it. I…"
"Look Lili, I like you. You're beautiful and you're fun to be around. We both like watching the same movies and I could talk to you for hours." He says cutting me off. I beam up at him.
"I feel the same way. I like you and for me that's a miracle in itself. But, I have been through a lot of bad things. I have baggage. I just really want to take this slow" I say as I look down at my plate. "I haven't had a real relationship with anyone for over a year now. I'm sorry I just want to take this slow." I say as I get up and walk over to the fridge. "I would understand if you don't want to wait, or anything…." I trail off and open the fridge grabbing a bottle of water. Somehow I've lost my appetite.
Suddenly I feel a pair of arms wrap around me and that heavenly woodsy scent wraps around me. "Take as long as you need. I'll wait." He says laying his head on my shoulder.
I nuzzle his face and place my arms on his. How could I have found such a good, normal man? He's smart, kind, and good hearted. We stand there for a while and just enjoy each other while the fridge door is wide open. I shut the door as I pull out of his arms and turn to look up at him. "So you're gonna be ok with this right?" I ask looking at him searching his face for any give away to what he's thinking. Those amber eyes just bore down into my soul. His face relaxes and bends down to kiss me on my lips. And at that moment I melt. I start to kiss him back and the kiss deepens. His lips are like velvet, and his I feel his tongue coaching me to open my mouth. As I do his tongue caresses mine and mine caresses his. After a moment we break the kiss and stare up at each other both panting a bit. "Slow" I say and turn to walk back to the breakfast bar.
He comes to sit down beside me and we eat our breakfast. As he clears our plates he turns around at the sink. He gracefully leans against the farm style sink and crosses him arms over his chest. "I will wait." He says then he looks up at me and smiles. "I will let you figure out what you need to figure out. I have never felt like this for any woman. You're smart, funny, witty, a smart ass, and beautiful." He pauses and runs his hand through his hair. "I want to date you. There I've said it. I will take things as slow as you want." He says staring dead into my eyes.
I get up and walk over to him and wrap my arms around him hugging him. "Thank you." I say and hug him tight. I stay there for a while and just his warmth warm my body inside and out. I think I could see myself spending a lot of time if not my life with this man.
Later that night we are curled up on the couch watching Casanova. A chick flick yes, but still a good and funny movie. I'm lying there curled up next to him, his arm draped around my shoulder. We had went and walked around a little in the snow talking about our childhoods, our dreams. I basically spilled all I had hidden away. It was like we'd known each other all our lives. The whole clique I know, but still. We'd come back inside and he cooked dinner, while I took a shower to warm myself up a bit. I pulled on a baggy sweat shirt and jeans. After dinner we had a few beers and sat in the living room watching movies. It was all in all a pretty good day. "You know I'm pretty sure you have to work tomorrow, am I right?" I ask looking up at Antony. I twist so that I lay on my back with my head in his lap.
"No I don't. I put my second in command until I return. I figured I could stay here with you. Like I said at breakfast. I didn't know what we are so I figured me staying here we could have our own time together. See where things can go, and if we really want to be together. I made a promise to wait for you, and to take things as slow as you want. I plan on keeping that promise." He says as he strokes my cheek.
I smile faintly and grab his arm wrapping it around myself. "That sounds fine with me." I lay there for a moment and let myself drift to sleep.
I awoke the next morning in my room and a sliver of light peeking through the drawn curtains. I didn't even remember coming up stairs and getting in bed. I roll over and there he is. Antony lay next to me shirtless, his beautiful chiseled chest staring back at me. I watch him as he sleeps and run my fingers lightly through his soft chocolate hair, and down the side of his face feeling his stubble as it scratches my palm. Suddenly his eyes flutter open and I jump back slightly.
"Good morning beautiful lady." He says groggily. "You look stunning with bed head."
I blush and kiss his lips softly "Good morning yourself." I say as I run my fingers through his hair again.
"Do you want to stay in bed today?" he asks as he snakes his arms around me. I feel his warm skin against my bare back and sides.
I nod my head in response and put my hands on his chest and look at him with a confused look. "You're….. really….. warm." I say as I lay back down and curl up close next to him. I lay my head on his chest and trace my finger along the peaks and valleys that are his chest.
"What do you expect from a man lying in bed with a beautiful woman?" He says to me as he brushes a few strands of hair out of my face. He sits up on one elbow, his hair a mess, and his body is so relaxed.
I look down under the covers and see that I'm still fully dressed. I stretch out look around the room a bit. "What time is it anyway?" I ask looking for a clock and amazingly enough I don't have one in the room.
"It's about noon." He say standing up and walking over to the window to open up the curtains. As the sunlight comes in I see that he's wearing a pair of baggy sweat pants that hang just low enough to make my jaw hit the floor.
"I see the snow is starting to melt. Good I do have to go to work tomorrow night. I'm sure my boss is going crazy right about now." I say pushing myself out of the bed and walking over to the chair to check my phone. I see that I have one message from Mary reminding me that tonight was our double date night. "Hey I got message from Mary… apparently tonight is our double date night." I say turning to him and smiling. I place my phone back on the charger and walk over to where he's standing at the window. Looking out the sun was out and bright, there was still some snow on the ground but it seemed to be melting under the sun. It was beautiful as always.
"Yea I remember. I think we are supposed to go to the boardwalk tonight and go to the carnival that is there." He wraps his arm around me and just stand there staring out into the wide open back yard.
"I'm gonna get a shower ok." I say wrapping his arm from around me and making my way to the bathroom. As I walk in I grab a fluffy black towel from the shelf. I walk over to the large glass standing shower and turn the hot water on. As I let the water warm up I shrug out of my sweat shirt and jeans placing them on the shelf near the shower and wrap the towel around myself. I stick my under the spray and check the temperature. It seems good enough to me so I unwrap myself and get into the warm spray. A few minutes later I hear a knock on the glass. I nearly jump out of my skin and turn around to see amber eyes staring back me.
"Mind if I join you? I promise I'll be a good boy." He says giving me a wicked smile.
Blushing I nod my head and he slips in. I stand facing the outer wall with my back turned towards him. I hear him under the spray of the shower. I couldn't stop my body from going stiff. Every muscle in my body `tightens and I can't move. I look down at my tile floor beneath my feet. Suddenly a pair of strong hands clamp on my upper arms. I nearly jump out of my skin.
"Calm down. It's ok. Just relax baby. I promise I will not do anything you don't want to do." He whispers in my ear. He smooths my hair down my back. I could feel the water dripping my back. I couldn't focus on anything. What was I doing letting a man get into the shower with me? Fear was starting to take hold. I was doing everything I could to squash it down and get control of myself.
I turn my head to see his face and search his features for signs of what he could be thinking. I gather my courage and turn my body to face him covering myself with my hands and arms. I keep my head down and look to the marble as I wait. The water from the shower is the only thing breaking up the silence. I finally start to let myself go. Turning my head to let my eyes wonder up his beautiful body. Soap suds still linger and cling to his legs. They are strong like the trunk of the great red woods. Traveling up his body further examining his sculpted, tan legs. As my eyes travel further up I see his hands resting comforablly at his sides. They look rough but when he touches me they are softer than velvet, and they convey such tenderness. I follow up his arms allowing my eyes to rise and dip with the contours of his muscles. His biceps stick out like the rolling hills of Ireland. Moving further up I reach out uncovering my breasts to touch his shoulders. I feel the steel like cords under his skin that make up his strong shoulders. I hear his breath hitch in his throat. Looking up to his eyes, they've gone from their original amber color to a melted golden honey. The weird part is that even in the shower I can smell a woodsy scent radiating off him. I continue my journey of exploring this man's naked build. Making my way around his neck where I can see steel cords of muscle fibers straining as I trail my fingers along his slicked skin. Smiling as I trail my down to his pecks and trace the lines of a tribal tattoo. It's of a wolf with his its head thrown back as if howling at the moon. My smile widens as I trace the black lines ever so softly. I continue my exploration down his stomach, along the dips and rising contours of his lovely six pack. Though, I look over under his right arm on his rib cage I see something that looks like ancient writing. Just a few lines and turn my body sideways so I can get a better view of the writing.
"It's a creed for my family." The words come out husky.
I nearly jump out of my skin at the sound of his voice. I look up at him and I see the hunger, desire, and want in his eyes. I've never seen someone look at me like this. I can't help myself I reach up wrapping my arms around his neck, tangling my fingers in his hair, pulling his head down, and kissing him passionately. As soon as our lips meet, I strange sensation courses through my veins. Almost, like a fire has been lite in my blood and spreads quickly through my body. As his arms snake around my waist and into my wet matted hair I feel his member press into my stomach and my eyes shoot open. He's very well blessed in that area. I feel his hand up and down my back feeling every inch of my skin. Our tongues meet as our mouths part to deepen the kiss. I turn my head to the right and tangle both my hands in his hair.
After a while I break the kiss pushing him back a bit so I can catch my breath. "I can't do this. Not right now. I'm sorry." I say I shake my head and hyperventaliating. Running my fingers through my hair. I squeeze the water out and bring it to one side. I feel his hand on my hips and I put my hand on his chest. He pulls me close to him and I grip his biceps. I feel him reach over and shut the water off and he strokes my hair.
"It's ok. You have nothing to be sorry for. We will take this slow I promise. We won't do anything you don't want to do. And, there's nothing you need to say you're sorry for." He says kissing the top of my head. I nod in response and we release each other.
I step out grabbing my fluffy towel and start to dry off. As I turn around there's Antony standing in front of the mirror with a towel wrapped around his waist. He turns the water on and starts to shave. I shake my head and head out to the bedroom to look for my own clothes.
I decide on a pair dark maroon straight leg jean, my black suede knee high wedge boots, a dark cream colored tight long sleeve shirt, I wrap a burgundy black and cream scarf around my neck. Walking back into the bathroom and there's the man of my dreams dressed in a black button up with black embroidery of a cross on the back, and some embroidering on the front pocket. Stone washed black jeans and black cowboy boots. I have to say it's hard not to stare. He looks good enough to eat. I look at my own vanity and brush my teeth before I start my makeup. I decide to go light causal doing a type of Arabic smokey eye, with a pale pink gloss. Tieing my hair up in a ponytail and let my mess ponytail just be. I smile over to Antony and slap his ass. "Sorry had to do it. It was just so tempting." I say standing behind him looking at his reflection in the mirror. Doing my best to break the tension that is hanging in the air. I trot out of the bathroom and look at the clock. It says 2:30pm. "Hey come on we need to go." I say going to get my knitted fur jacket.
I descend the stairs and wait as Antony comes down just a few minutes behind me. He grabs his black pea coat shrugging it on he looks at me. "Are you ready for the cold?" He asks and takes both my hands. He looks me up and down and twirls me around. "You look beautiful, as always." He says and places a chaste kiss on my lips.
"Come on let's go. It will take a little while for us to get down to the pier." I pause and grab my phone out of my bag. "I'll text Mary once we get closer to town." I say as we both climb into his Porsche. He climbs in and the Porsche comes to life as he cranks it up. The day is beautiful and I feel the tension from earlier leave. The seats are heated and the heater is on. We talk about little things like what he wants to do with his life, where I see mine going. Thankfully he doesn't bring up anything about my past. For that I am grateful.
The three hour drive goes by quickly and I text Mary letting her know we are back in the city. It's not long and I receive a phone call. " hello" I answer.
" Hey girl we will meet you two at the pier ok?"
" Ok that sounds good. We are just getting into the city now so it might a little bit before we get there. Where did y'all want to eat?" I ask glancing over to Antony. He's concentrating on driving in traffic.
" Oh we don't care. I guess we could get some burgers there on the boardwalk. What do you think?" She asks and I can hear John in the background. I'm just not sure what he's saying.
" Actually that sounds really good. Let's go ahead and do that. Antony and I should be there soon. I'll call you when we get there". I said and I feel a hand take mine and Antony starts rubbing his thumb across my knuckles.
" Ok we will see you there."
And with that the phone call ends