Chapter 2
"Pleased to meet you Ms. Pope. I would never have assumed you to be an Olivia. I was thinking maybe an Allison, Maria, Danai, or even a Penelope, but never an Olivia. I like it though. Olivia. Pope. It has a nice ring to it. I'm Fitzgerald Grant. My friends call me Fitz."
"So, you assumed I could be just about anyone but an Olivia. Why is that Mr. Grant?" It wasn't lost on the man that she hadn't taken his invitation to call him Fitz. No matter, he knew that soon she would.
"It's nothing really just a guy interested in a girl. A guy that's looking ahead. I had nothing to do as I whiled away the hours waiting for you to get off of work. I read up on the local culture here. An odd article that I found was a piece on the most common female names chosen by parents here in the islands over the last quarter of a century. Olivia didn't make the top ten. I had made up my mind that you would be an Allison and I would get to call you Ali. It was just some reading trivia. Come and sit with me Olivia."
Like a puppy she had followed him into a private corner area in the bar. Having come in here specifically looking for him what else was she to do? She didn't consider where this was going nor why. She had wanted to be with him. He pulled out a chair for her and she sat down. So, Peter chivalry wasn't dead! After she was seated, he sat down as well. The effect from following his well-defined body to the table and now staring into those eyes of his was devastating. She took a deep breath and continued their conversation.
"What an odd thing to do, reading up on the local culture. Why would you do it? And what have you found most interesting about the Caymans?"
"Isn't it fairly obvious? I find you fascinating Olivia. You are the most interesting woman I have ever met up until this point. I told you I hoped for us to become better acquainted. Even though I have been coming here since I was fifteen years old, I really know very little about the island. Once we did actually get together and become acquainted, I had hoped to be able to converse with you on a variety of topics. Quite frankly I wanted to impress you."
"And why would you want to impress me Mr. Grant?"
"For any number of reasons but mostly because I want to get to know you better."
"You are a visitor here on my island for what one week or two? How well did you hope to get to know me in that length of time? Perhaps long enough to persuade me to come up to your room for a nightcap or better yet, a night of torrid sex? Are you looking for a one-night stand Mr. Grant? If so, I can save you all that effort you intend to waste. I'm not a one-night-stand type of woman."
Had he really over-played this first meeting so poorly? He must admit he was eager. If he didn't have to go through the usual rigmarole to lie down with her he would have been pleased. For some reason he needed to possess this woman. He didn't simply want to have sex with her, he wanted to worship her from head to toe. He wanted to give her so much pleasure that she would seek him out for their next encounter. However, for now, he needed to slow things down and get on a track Olivia was comfortable with. He wanted this woman. He wanted her for more than one night. He knew that now. He had to turn this around and quickly!
"To be honest Olivia I had hoped to persuade you to come to my room for a nightcap and better yet a torrid night of sex. I rarely play games Olivia. At this point in my life when I see something I want, I go for it, full throttle. Life is too short to play games. I am here on family business. I'm scheduled to be here for two weeks. I have ten days left. Why not go for what I want? And what I want is you, Olivia."
The man didn't beat around the bush. He had been here waiting for her. He had singled her out to acquire and conquer. He wasn't even subtle about it. Olivia had to admit she was surprised at his answer but she was thrilled also. She had asked him blunt questions and he had replied back with blunt answers without blinking an eye. He saw her five hours ago and he wanted her. Wanted her as in he wanted her beneath the sheets. His words didn't surprise her. Many men had often wanted her in her twenty-three years on earth. She had repelled them with her usual aplomb and gone on her merry way. This time was different. She had seen him five hours ago and she had wanted him as well. She felt as if she would welcome his touch.
Their approaches to their dilemma had been very different. He knew exactly what he wanted from her. He was a man of the world without a doubt. And he had been down this road before. No way was he a twenty-three-year-old virgin wondering what real sex would feel like. He knew and he wanted to experience it with her. He had wanted her in his bed and he had said so.
Olivia could have been down this road herself. Peter had wanted to take her down the road of sexual awakening. She had refused to go and now she had seen a man that she thought she wanted to experience it with and she had no idea what to do. She knew it was more than a moral code instilled in her from strict parents that had kept her from giving herself to Peter. She didn't love him and she held no sexual attraction to him. During those encounters with Peter, she wasn't moved to join him in his sex play. She never felt the urge to engage with him or let him take her on a mutual sexual journey.
Yet, here she was listening to a complete stranger saying he wanted her in his bed and she was more than intrigued. She was honed in to his every word. Her vital signs were all elevated. She was in a sexual haze. If there was such a thing and at this point, she knew there was, because she could feel it. Darcie had said that a woman's juices started to flow when sexually aroused just like a man. She could feel the dampness down below. Heat seemed to be emitting from her private parts! She crossed her hands across her bosom. Her nipples had hardened and she felt them pressing into the fine fabric of her swimsuit. Dammit! This was all happening too fast.
Fitz was watching her intently. She had heard every word he had said and she was obviously thinking about it. Would she take him up on his offer? They were both consenting adults. Would she say yes and let them see where this was going? Perhaps one night would be enough for him. Somehow, he doubted it. There was something about this woman. It was like he needed her at this moment to continue breathing. His breath right now was caught in his throat waiting for her answer.
He had always been able to take no for an answer. Men and women had a right to say no and that was the end of it. He didn't want whatever this was between them to end. So, for the first time in a long time, he was anxious and silent. He hadn't thought they would get to this point so quickly. She had been direct and so had he. Like he said he didn't play games and he didn't tell lies. Truth was what held relationships together. He wanted to be honest with Olivia right from the first. And he was encouraged that the woman seemed to value honesty as well.
This conversation literally had him on the rise. His dick was on full fuck alert! He was hardening in anticipation of an answer from her. Would she take him up on his offer? Would she come with him to his room? Would he get to possess her tonight? He had been thinking of nothing but her for the last five hours. He wanted to touch her everywhere. The thought of pushing himself inside her had made his semi-hard state a memory. He was at full mast. It was a good thing he was sitting down and able to discreetly adjust himself. This woman did some very strange things to him. He had planned just to talk tonight and get to know her. That didn't happen and now they were here.
Finally, she spoke. She had been looking down as if trying to avoid eye contact with him. He couldn't gage her reaction. He could normally read women very well. This woman was an enigma to him. He was looking directly at her when she raised her head. He didn't want to miss any nuance or signal from her. If she said yes, he would have to control himself. He wanted to pick her up like a caveman and take her to his lair.
"Mr. Grant, Fitzgerald (She wanted to lie down with this man, calling him Mr. Grant was ridiculous!); I'm impressed that I impressed you. I'm just a naïve islander that really knows little of the world. I have spent seven years in the states so I know how America works and to some degree I know a little of American men. I wasn't surprised when you said when you see something you want, you go for it. It's the American way I think. It's the way I think as well. I'm studying to become a physician and it's been a one-way street for me for years. All work and no play have been my motto. I dated very little while at Spelman and even less at Harvard. I've recently been dating a man from home and it's fairly serious but there really isn't a commitment. He has asked me to marry him. As of this moment I haven't accepted his offer. I'm not ready for marriage. However, we have been exclusive for a while.
This evening when I first met you, I felt something very strange. I was drawn to you like I've never been drawn to a man before. I will admit I came in here tonight looking for you. I wanted you to know my name. I wanted to get to know you better. I wanted us to be better acquainted. That's a new phenomenon for me. I've never been that interested in boys. Even my relationship with my boyfriend isn't that special. I'm in it but I know it isn't going anywhere. To be honest with you Fitzgerald I wanted to go with you to your room. It sounded exciting and I think a part of me wants to be with you. But I'm not ready for a whirlwind sexual involvement. I'm not that type of girl. For a moment I was though. I was and I wanted you to know that for some reason. It was nice meeting you Fitzgerald. You seem like a very nice and a very interesting man. I don't participate in one night stands even if I feel like I want to! Please enjoy the rest of your stay on the island."
She stood up to leave the table. Fitz grabbed her hand and it felt like she had been touched by fire. Her entire body was infused with his being. All of her senses had been displaced. She looked into his eyes and she was lost. They were gray again. How did he do that trick with his eyes? He was gently squeezing her hand and somehow their fingers had become entwined. She looked down at the sight and she closed her eyes against the imagery and prayed that her heart didn't simply jump from her chest onto him.
"Olivia, please don't go. There's something between us and you know it. It's something special and we need to explore it. I want you so much and I believe you want me too. It will be so special between us. I know this. I've never wanted anyone the way I want you. I have feelings for you that frighten me. I'm afraid to lose you and I've never had you! What does this all mean, Olivia? We need to find out together.
You seem a little frightened. You don't have to be Olivia. I would never hurt you in any way. Let's explore what's happening between us. We can back this up and put sex on the back burner for now. Sex is an expression of caring about another person through your prospective bodies but both parties have to want it. I can wait until you are ready Olivia. Let's just be friends for now. What do you say? Can we be friends now and perhaps lovers later?"
He made it all seem so easy. They could be friends now and lovers later? She was a virgin for goodness' sake! She had no idea how to please a man in the bedroom. She knew the mechanics of sexual involvement, but not real sex. That mess she was doing with Peter was exactly that, a mess. And it was something she didn't really want. She had done those things because she felt she owed it to him for stringing him along. She was never going to bed with Peter and she knew it! She was never going to marry him. She knew she had to end this thing with Peter as of today!
She had known Fitzgerald Grant for a little more than five hours and she wanted him to breach her maidenhead! What in the hell was going on? This is the sin and temptation that had been talked about in Island households for years and years. This is what girls and women and been taught to resist. This was temptation. If she sat back down and agreed to become "friends" with the man holding her hand, her entire life would change and there wouldn't be any going back. She looked down at their still entwined hands for just a moment before she sat back down.
She looked up into those eyes of his and she wanted to run into his arms. What she saw in his eyes was comforting and reassuring. He seemed sincere enough. Perhaps everything would be alright if she simply went with the flow. Whatever was going on between them she wanted it to happen. The honest truth was that a series of events had been set in motion. At this point she wasn't sure if either one of them could stop them. Their lives had been set on a certain path and neither she nor Fitzgerald Grant knew where it would take them. They were just sitting there holding hands and looking at each other. The rest of the world was shut out. She was the first to speak again.
"I think I want to try. I'm truly confused right now. We don't even know each other but it feels like I've known you forever. I want us to be friends and see where we end up. I do think I want to try Fitzgerald."
"I'm grateful you want to try Olivia because if you didn't want to try, I'm not sure what I would do. Can we meet tomorrow? Are you working?"
"I'm not on the schedule for tomorrow. And Fitzgerald I only have a week left before I return to Harvard. We don't have ten days to explore our friendship."
"I promise we will have enough time for whatever is between us. I intend to see to it."
Olivia saw Uncle Jim coming towards them out of the corner of her eye. He monitored every pertinent event going on in his establishment. He would have surely seen her walk into a secluded area of the bar with a stranger. He had actually given them more time alone than she expected him to. She was his godchild after all and he had loved her like a daughter her entire life. He walked up to the table and started talking. Uncle Jim would be blunt.
"Olivia there you are! I wondered where you were. What are you doing stuck over here in this corner? Who is this guy? Is he not a stranger? Don't you know I was worried about you? Your life plays out like clockwork. You come by to see me after work and you go home. Your father said you didn't have a date with that dickhead, Peter Hansen. He was expecting you home after work. He called worried about you."
"I'm sorry Uncle Jim. I lost track of time sitting here talking to my new friend. By the way this is Fitzgerald Grant. We were sitting here talking and lost track of the time is all. I'll call daddy to let him know I'm on my way. Would you give us a few more minutes of privacy Uncle?" Uncle Jim gave Fitzgerald Grant a look that didn't fare well for his future involvement with Olivia. He did move away and left the two of them alone again.
Fitz was still holding her hand and was reluctant to let it go. She didn't want him to. "How do I get in contact with you Olivia. I would like to see you tomorrow."
"I will call you bright and early."
"You promise?"
"I promise Fitzgerald."
"My friends call me Fitz."
"I promise Fitz, goodnight."
"Goodnight Olivia."
