One Night Stand? (Helen)
Ache, by James Carrington
"Isn't it strange the way things can change
Life that you lead turned on its head
Suddenly someone means more than you felt for
House in its yard turns into home
Sorry but I meant to say many things along the way
This one's for you
Have I told you I ache
Have I told you I ache
Have I told you I ache, for you"
We made love this morning until I was completely exhausted. I had finally fallen asleep in his arms, feeling safe and secure like never before. Who was this man whose body I had explored so thoroughly for hours? I only knew that he was the most passionate and considerate lover a woman could ask for. A soft caress, a kiss, a nibbling on one of the sensitive spots of my body – some of which I hadn't known myself – rekindled the fire within my body over and over again. He reached his own peak each time he brought out the woman in me with amazing stamina. One touch was enough to set me afire again. A few times I had been shy at my own passion, but each time he'd encouraged me to follow through. I couldn't get enough of him, especially of his responsiveness. His face was very expressive, like a mirror showing countless nuances of his mood. There was only one constant – a subtle sadness in his eyes. Only during a very few moments, when he'd surrendered to me completely, the sadness had vanished. There had to be a reason for it, but I hadn't asked, not wanting to destroy the magic of the moment.
I was still a bit drowsy when I noticed that I was alone in bed. Promptly my consciousness returned. Was he gone? I listened to the sounds in the house, but there were none. It was dark outside and according to my clock it was late Sunday evening. Only the smell of freshly brewed coffee reached my nose. Coffee? I jumped out of bed and put on my robe before I tiptoed down into the kitchen. He stood at the window in his boxers and nipped some coffee. „Good evening", he said. I wrapped my arms around my body. The way he eyed me had me tingling in all the right places. „Hey", I replied and walked to him. He smiled and pulled me into his arms. „You look a bit worn", he teased. I just grinned. „Hm, I wonder who's responsible?" I returned. „Your insatiable appetite for me", he started, but I intervened. „Wait a minute, who's the insatiable one, huh?" I scolded him. „Are you complaining, Helen?" he teased. I pouted. „Only that you didn't wake me properly", I replied. „Oh, that I can catch up on, if you want", he told me. I thought about it for a moment. „Well, I am hungry", I replied and he started fumbling with the belt of my robe, but I took his hands away with a smile. „But for now I'm not hungry for this, Damon."
Now he was the one to pout. „Ouch", he replied. „I thought you should get as much sleep as possible", he added with a wink. „That's very considerate of you, and very selfless", I returned also with a wink. He pulled his head back a little and scrutinized me. „Hm, considerate … that's okay. Selfless? No", he replied seriously. Just smiled at him. „Yeah, sure, just what I thought", I said casually and turned to the cabinet. „How about dinner?" I asked. When he didn't answer I turned around. He looked at me with an indefinable, almost pensive expression. I had answered rashly, without thinking and obviously I had hurt him. He remained silent. I rolled my eyes. „Oh, come on, Damon, I was joking", I said and wanted to wrap my arms around his neck, but he took them down. „You don't know anything about me, Helen", he said, the hurt plain in his voice. I realized that he was angry.
„Damon, I'm sorry", I sighed. „This came out totally wrong. You just said you're not selfless, but that's not really true." I cupped his face with my hands and lowered my voice. „The part of you I got to know in the last few hours was pretty altruistic." I smiled at him and after a while he responded. „Apology accepted", he replied with a smile and wrapped his arms around me. A warm and happy feeling surged through me. „What would you like to eat?" I whispered into his ear. „You", he replied softly and nibbled on my earlobe. I giggled. „Which part of me first?" He continued nibbling down my throat. „Hm, maybe I start here", he whispered and started suckling on a spot right over my carotid artery. Oh, that spot! I started quivering with high excitement. Gasping I tightened my hold on him. „Jeez … if … I didn't know better … I'd say you're a vampire", I stammered and squirmed in his arms. His short hesitation registered with me, but I didn't mind. He continued until my stomach rumbled and I giggled. Damon let me go and grinned. „Okay, before you devour me we should get you something to eat", he teased.
„How about delivery? Got a good Chinese or Italian delivery?" He took a flyer from my fridge and studied it. „The Chinese isn't bad, but the Italian is better", I said and snatched the paper, reading it. „Then let's take the Italian", he suggested. „Okay, but you order while I take a shower!" I thrusted the paper into his hands and fled upstairs. On the way, I heard him grumble and had to laugh. He was funny. After the shower I put on jogging pants and a shirt and headed back down into the kitchen. „All done", he said and put the list back on the refrigerator door. „And, what did you order?" I asked. „That is for me to know and I'm taking a shower now", he smirked and tousled my hair in passing. Less than 20 minutes later my doorbell rang. I opened the door and saw an elderly person with the sign of the Italian restaurant on his jacket. „Prego, Signora", he said and put the bags on the porch's table. „Allora, qui ci sono Melanzane al forno, Pomodori alla Siciliana, Ragú alla Bolognese e Gnocchi al Gorgonzola ed infine la Tiramisú!" I was baffled. What the hell had Damon ordered? „Ah, Signor Falcone. Grazie per la Sua consegna." Damon came down the stairs and greeted the man. Then he looked through the bags. „Dové l'Amarone?" he asked. I didn't understand the Italian answer, but the guy opened his backpack and pulled a bottle of red wine while he grinned knowingly at me. Damon took the bill and carried the bags into the kitchen. I could just thank the guy and hurried to follow Damon inside. "You got candles somewhere?" he asked while he searched for plates and cutlery. "Why do you need candles?" I asked, still baffled. He rolled his eyes. "A real Italian dinner should be enjoyed in candlelight", he replied.
Shortly after we had a candlelight dinner in my kitchen and feasted on the delicious Italian specialties Damon had ordered. Along with the dessert, Damon poured us the sweet red wine. Perfectly matching the chocolate, I thought. "Where did you learn Italian, Damon?" I asked. "Picked it up here and there", he answered evasively. I remained quiet for a second. Curiously, I continued asking. "And, are you on your way to here or there?" I insisted with a smile. He stopped eating and looked at me. "Why do you want to know?" he asked. He didn't seem irritated, only a little downcast or rather disappointed. I pondered on it. Should I really risk driving him away with my curiosity? But why wouldn't he answer if he had nothing to hide? I returned his gaze. "Well, I usually don't sleep with strangers who are only passing through town." Now it was out. Yesterday at the bar I had already assumed that he was a loner. I had seen likewise too often, although none of them had saved my life and slept with me. He met my gaze. "Why do you think you won't see me again?" he retorted. "Don't know, it's just a feeling", I replied. He smiled. "Just wait and see", he added and resumed eating his dessert.
I sighed inwardly. A one-night stand, what else. Oh well, best to get unpleasant things over and done with, I thought. Maybe he had a family waiting somewhere. Or he really was the lonesome wolf – at least according to my very first impression. But why had he stayed? He could've vanished while I'd been asleep. Don't raise false hopes, Helen, I scolded myself. He's just passing through, you won't see him again – end of story. "You're finished?" His question jolted me out of my musings. "Yeah, sure. This was excellent", I said and poured me another glass of red wine. "Why don't you sit on the couch. I got this", he said and shooed me out of the kitchen. I obliged and took my glass to the couch. Setting it down on the low table, I sat on the couch and let my thoughts wander. The robbery was still on my mind. No wonder, he could've killed you! I thought. I should pray that wouldn't get any nightmares. I closed my eyes and hugged my knees to my chest, putting my head down on them. Again, I saw the gun in front of my face and shivered. I tried to think of something else, but the picture kept coming back. I groaned softly and opened my eyes, rubbing my hands over my face.
"Problems?" I heard Damon's voice behind me and nodded. "The memory keeps coming back", I whispered and put my head down again. "I think I was more frightened than I had thought." He put his warm hands on my neck and started kneading the muscles. "You looked pretty self-confident", he said, but I shook my head. "Without you, he could've beaten me up or killed me", I replied. He just kept kneading my shoulder muscles. "Relax, Helen", he whispered. I tried it. His hands were warm and strong and felt good. "Close your eyes now", he said. For a couple of minutes I was able to relax under his ministrations and raised my arms on my knees. "Ah, that feels great", I murmured. "There you are", he replied and continued. After a short while, I was truly relaxed and he stopped. "Scoot over", he said and plopped down next to me.
We sat like this for a while, slowly sipping the wine. It was delicious, but I could feel it going into my head and making me drowsy. I leaned on Damon and he put an arm around my shoulder. "Thank you for the fabulous dinner, Damon", I said softly. "You're welcome. I love Italian cooking, I just couldn't hold back." Slowly my eyes were closing, I couldn't help it. Suddenly he pulled me onto his lap, got up lifting me with him and walked to the stairs. I struggled only a few seconds. "Hey, what are you up to?" I asked bewildered. "You almost fell asleep and I thought it's time to tuck you in", he replied and carried me effortlessly upstairs. "And you don't think I could've walked?" I chided him. He grinned. "Well, I thought this is funnier", he teased. I rolled my eyes and let him lower me onto the mattress. "Go, under the duvet", he commanded. I gave him a mock salute and undressed slowly, but he just raised an eyebrow. He obviously wouldn't negotiate. I made myself comfortable and seconds later I felt him snuggling close to me. With his arms around me I felt warm and secure and my eyes finally closed.