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I slowed to a stop and jumped off my bike, leaning it against the wall while I unlocked the gate that led to our courtyard. Once open I walked the bike inside and let the gate close again, self locking with a heavy click.
Fourteen apartments, two stories. Each one had its own people, its own smell.
The smell of curry wafted divinely from upstairs – Ms. Rachel's place no doubt. Laundry detergent, basil, cigarettes, something floral… like I said. Every place had its own thing going on.
I had things to do: reading for a class, research for a thesis, emailing my mother.
Shaving my legs.
He'd said he wasn't punctual. I was. I lived life with near military precision; my bedroom was neat, my study habits were impeccable and I always clocked into my job at the local Whole Foods on time. I'd always been that way.
Wandering into my room, I dropped my backpack and kicked off my shoes. I looked at the posters and snapshots Edward had been checking out, trying to see them through his eyes.
What had he thought of them? Of me?
Obviously something good if he'd asked for my number.
Around quarter to ten my phone rang.
Rose made a face and peeked out the window, holding the blinds aside.
"Hello?"
"Bella, hi. I'm outside."
"I'll be right out."
I ended the call and tossed the phone into my purse.
"Wasn't he supposed to be here at nine?" sniffed Rose, watching me get my shoes on.
"He told me he'd be late. Don't trip."
"Whatever," she sighed, walking back in to the kitchen.
I rolled my eyes. That was Rose - loyal, protective and a judgmental pain in the behind.
"Have fun, babe." Alice winked, holding the door open for me as I walked out.
"I will, Al. Thanks."
It was a little chilly tonight, so typical of Oakland. I loved it. Summer meant warmer days, rarely hot, and comfortably cool nights.
Edward's truck was idling on the curb. It was big and yellow and rusty. Hideous, a tank - sturdy, like it would win in an accident.
He didn't even look like he'd drive a vehicle like that. But then again, maybe he did.
Jeans, frayed a little at the bottom. Old tee shirt. Jacket. A kangol on his head, hair just so.
Damn. He was certainly something to look at.
My heart took a nose dive; he was so out of my league. And yet there he sat, waiting for me.
He smiled when I got in. "Hi."
"Hi."
"Sorry I'm late." His eyes took me in, lingering at the hem of my skirt. It was Alice's, and it hit a couple of inches above the knee.
"I doubt that. You'd said you'd be..." I put my seatbelt on, trying not to fidget unnecessarily.
He smiled a little. "Ready?"
"Yep."
He put the ancient beast in drive and swung it into the flow of traffic.
We made small talk; chatting about our day. I'd worked a morning shift and then had one class. He'd been in the Berkeley Hills all day, working on a multimillion dollar house for some software sweetheart.
We drove for a little while. The city lights began to fade and grow distant as we climbed high into the hills.
"Where are we going?" I asked. I had a skirt on. And heels. Not high heels, but like, sandals with heels. I'd just assumed we'd do dinner or a movie or something.
"Grizzly Peak. There's someplace I want to show you."
"Okay," I said, feeling uncertain now. I really hoped there wouldn't be in the dark shenanigans. I'd have opted for sneakers and jeans had that been the plan.
When we got to Grizzly Peak, high in the hills, Edward pulled off and parked. He opened my door for me and then grabbed a six pack of Sierra Nevada from the back.
"Come on."
I grabbed his arm and held on for dear life, hoping I wouldn't fall in the near blackness.
Soon we came upon a rock. No, not a rock… a boulder.
"You go up first, and then I'll give you the beer."'
I stared at him. "You want me to climb? In a skirt?"
"I didn't know you'd be wearing a skirt."
"I didn't know I'd be mountain climbing." But I slid my shoes off and started climbing, feeling for footholds and crevices. Edward helped me, steadying my legs and even my thighs.
He'd seen me naked so, I guess it wasn't that big of a deal.
Still, I wondered if he was looking at my panties. Or if he could even see them in the dark.
I made it up without incident and reached down for the beer. Then Edward scaled the rock and plopped down next to me. The top of the rock was hollowed out somewhat, giving it a cave-like feel. In front of us though, there was a sheer drop. I shivered, not wanting to imagine either of us taking the wrong step.
But I had to admit, the view was breathtaking. We could see the Bay and the bridges, and the San Francisco skyline. Visibility was at its best thanks to the clean, crisp air.
"Wow." I breathed in appreciatively.
"I know. We used to come up here all the time. Sometimes I still do. I don't think people really know about this," Edward said, popping open the first beer with his lighter and giving it to me.
"Thanks for showing it to me," I said.
"You're welcome." He opened a beer for himself and took a swig. "So. Bella. What's your last name?"
We talked for hours.
The way down was easier than the way up, thankfully. This time Edward led the way, offering to go first so he could assist me once more. We'd become rather easy going in the past three or so hours and I no longer felt shy about him having his hands on me. He just didn't seem to be that way.
I mean, I could tell he wanted me. But he wasn't pervy or impatient. He sort of gave off the vibe that he was used to getting what he wanted but that he didn't mind waiting for it.
I liked that. I mean, yeah. I liked him.
I could feel it starting, the beginnings of a true crush. More than a crush, maybe.
"You want to come back to my place?" he asked once we were back in the truck.
I chewed my lip, gazing out the window. I did want to. I wanted him to kiss me. Maybe more. But I wasn't sure that going home with him would send the right message.
"I don't expect you to… do anything," he said, correctly reading my hesitation. "We can just hang out. I'll bring you home whenever."
"Okay," I agreed. I didn't know if that was true or not. Not from his side - I trusted him to behave.
It was me I worried about.
His house was in a neighborhood a couple of miles from mine, and it was medium sized and messy. He looked like he had a thousand projects going on, tools and nuts and screws and blueprints everywhere.
"I'd apologize for the mess, but… this is the way it is. I'm always working."
"That's cool," I said honestly. I personally couldn't deal with my living space being disorganized but I didn't care what other people did. This was obviously a passion and a livelihood for him. I liked that he had things he was so sure about.
"Have a seat," he said, offering me the couch. He continued on to the stereo and put some music on, real low and mellow. "You want another beer? Or some water or something?"
"Water would be great."
He returned with a bottle for me and one for him.
We started chatting again, this time me asking a hundred and one questions about Oakland and Berkeley, the school system, what it had been like growing up here. He had so many stories to tell, and I loved hearing him talk.
I loved his smile and the way he shaped his words.
My phone said 4:06.
Yikes. It was late. I didn't have work or class the next day, thankfully, but still.
I washed my hands and left the bathroom.
Our conversation had drifted to a natural lull, and I was finally feeling a bit sleepy.
Edward stood in the doorway of the living room. "Tired?"
"Yeah…"
"You want to stay?"
I blushed, looking down. "I don't know."
And then he was in front of me, tipping my chin up. "Don't tease me."
He kissed me deep, his tongue finding mine right away. We'd been so chaste all night, nothing but looks and laughter and sometimes a brushing of hands… this was unexpected and yet so anticipated.
"Will you stay?" he asked again, and whether he said the words or not there were propositions in his tone.
"Yes," I whispered.
He slid his hands up under my skirt and squeezed. "Come on."
We went to his bedroom and fell on the bed, kissing like we'd done at my house. This time he pushed his knee between my legs; the roughness of the denim against my bare inner thighs felt good. He played around my waist and hips and then slid my panties down, off my legs.
Suddenly he lay back, bringing me with him. He maneuvered me so that I was kneeling over his face, a leg on either side. I choked back a gasp; no one had ever done that to me. Not like that.
But then his mouth was on me and his tongue was hot and wet. His hands were all over me too, squeezing me and kneading the skin.
I keeled forward a little, trying to find something to hold on to, and flattened my palms against the wall.
He sucked and licked and fingered till I came.
"You gonna let me?" he asked, his voice sounding dreamy and far.
"Yes." I sighed, breathless and a little dreamy myself, and pulled off my shirt.
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