by J J Loraine
It’s like he reads my mind, because I instantly hear a knock on my stall room door.
“Hey!” he whispers. “How do you like them?”
“They’re amazing,” I giggle back. “... You want to see?”
There’s a small pause.
“Yes,” he whispers, mischievously.
I open the door for him. He makes sure the coast is clear and he steps in.
His hunky presence fills the little room. I quiver in his shadow. We both bite our lips at the same time.
He turns me around and rests his chin on my shoulder as he studies my reflection in the mirror opposite to us.
He smiles and smacks his lips.
“You look gorgeous,” he whispers into my ear. His hot breath sends shivers of arousal down my spine. I get goosebumps as he gently begins to kiss my exposed neck.
I try to stifle my sighs of pleasure. I rub my backside into his tightening pants. I feel his mass growing against my thickness. I sway my hips and he twirls his finger around the strap of my new dress and leads it below my shoulder line.
He kisses my naked shoulder blade and runs his hands up and down my body. He grabs by breasts with one big hand and uses the other to hike up the bottom of my dress.
“Should I get it?” I sigh, as his fingers pinch my damp panties and move them aside.
“Let’s give it a test run,” he growls.
I close my eyes. I’m trembling with anticipation. I fold my arms around my back and blindly begin to unbuckle his pants.
He desperately pushes his hardness into my softness. Our breathing intensifies.
Suddenly, I feel a vibration against my butt.
It feels good.
Max ignores it for a few seconds. He’s so enamoured by my body that I wouldn’t be surprised if he just didn’t notice it at all. I hope he doesn’t.
It doesn’t take long for him to pull away from me, though.
I sense him pull his ringing phone out of his pocket.
“Shit...” he whispers.
His eager hand falls from my heaving breast. He hugs me close and tight, but the lust his gone from his grip.
“I have to go,” he whispers into my ear.
I’m still crazy with passion. I press against his softening loins, to no avail.
“Is something wrong?” I ask.
“There’s an emergency at the hospital. I was supposed to have the day off, but you can’t really ignore a call when someone’s life is on the line.”
I’m disappointed, but I understand. People really on Max. I need to let him go help them.
I push off of him and turn around. I rise up on my tiptoes and give him a caring kiss.
“It’s OK,” I assure him. “Go.”
He gazes deep into my soul and smiles. He kisses me back and then rummages around in his pocket.
He takes out his wallet and pulls out a credit card.
“Here,” he says, handing me the card. “Use this for the dress. We have reservations at the steak house for six. I should easily be able to make it on time. This is an emergency, but it shouldn’t take me long to deal with. I want to see you in this dress tonight!”
I hesitantly take his card. “Are you sure?” I ask.
He nods, full of certainty. “The steak house is only a block or so away from here. Buy whatever you want and then meet me there for dinner. I want to see you flaunt your new clothes.”
“Ok,” I assure him. I hold his hand. He’s so strong and stoic that I feel safe just from his touch.
“I’ll wear it,” I whisper.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
He kisses me on the forehead and heads out of the dressing room; off to save another life.
15
Max
The emergency wasn’t as urgent as I had initially expected.
The patient was just experiencing some ordinary, run-of-the-mill medical complications, nothing we couldn’t handle. The way my assistant had made it seem in her notification, we were facing a life or death situation.
I’m glad that I didn’t have to spend that much energy on work. I want to be able to focus entirely on Emma tonight.
It’s about 5:30pm when I pull back into the mall parking lot.
I texted Emma to meet me at the restaurant. I want to hop into mall quick and buy her a fancy necklace to surprise her with at dinner.
I’ve heard of a place that makes very elegant jewelry that I think would be perfect for her. I don’t think she’d want anything too ostentatious. I can tell she doesn’t like bringing attention to herself. That’s alright with me. I’m completely happy being the sole focus of her desire.
I find the shop and nearly skip inside. I can’t hardly believe how excited I am to see her face again. I knew I was smitten, but this is a whole other level.
I’ve been alone for so long that I wasn’t sure if I even knew what love felt like anymore. Emma has uncovered that part of me all over again. I know what love feels like now; it feels like how I feel about her.
I study the elegant glass cases filled with shiny jewels.
I always get my staff Christmas and birthday presents -- it brings me great joy to provide for those I care about – but I’ve never felt as excited to buy a gift as I do right now.
I’ve never cared about anyone as much as I already care about Emma.
It almost feels like I’m buying something for family... maybe for a future wife?
Oh God, I hope so.
I spot the perfect necklace. It’s silver and holds a diamond embedded heart at the bottom of its sleek, shimmering chain. It’s pricey, but I have more than enough money. I’ve saved up for so long, just for this exact scenario. I want to spoil the socks off of this girl. I never want her to have to work another day in her life. We’ll go on vacations and raise children together and live off of my savings and our love for each other.
I pay and happily head over to the steak house down the block. It’s almost 6pm; I should be right on time.
I can’t wait to see Emma in her new dress. She looked so good in it earlier. I couldn’t even help myself; I just had to have her, right then and there.
Not too long ago, I had feared that my libido was slipping with my age. It just turns out that I needed the perfect spice to crank that bad boy back up to 11.
What a relief.
Oh, how disappointed I was when my phone had gone off. I had tried to ignore it at first, but it was no use. I have a strong sense of duty. My patients rely on me for their health and well-being, and sometimes their lives; I couldn’t ignore them even if I wanted to.
It was such a relief to see that glimmer of pride in Emma’s eyes when she told me to go help them. I’ve had girlfriends in the past who got angry at me for leaving them, even when it was to go literally save someone’s life.
How selfish can you be?
Emma strikes me as selfless. She thought of others at a time when we were consumed by one another’s passion. No one else existed in the universe at that moment but for the two of us, yet she still told me to go and do my duty.
I’ll make it up to her, I swear. She’s amazing and perfect and I love her -- I have to tell her that tonight.
I have to.
16
Emma
I’m shown to our table by a nice older maître-D’.
He recognizes the name under our reservations.
“Bill and Mary regaled me about how you and the doctor helped them on that scary flight home,” he tells me. “How heroic!”
I giggle, humbled by his appreciation. “Oh, it was really the doctor who saved the day. He’ll be here soon. He’s the real hero!”
“I’m sure he’ll say the same about you,” he winks.
I giggle again, flattered.
I feel like I’m on cloud nine. What an amazing past two days these have been. I’ve never been happier or more confident.
That all changes when the nice old maître-D’ leaves and I’m greeted by the co
ld young waitress.
My insecurities immediately flare up in the presence of the conventional gorgeous woman. She’s tall and skinny and her arms are long and elegant. She’s got big, plump lips and chiseled cheek bones and a sharp, stunning jawline.
It’s not her supermodel good-looks that make slink away into my seat, though. It’s her judgemental gaze. I recognize it. I’ve been bullied by people like her before.
I foolishly though that once I graduated and was done with school for good, I’d never have to deal with these types again.
Boy, was I wrong.
All the pain of my past slowly bubbles up inside of me again.
“Will you be dinning alone, tonight?” smirks the waitress.
Of course, she expects me to be alone.
To be fair, I usually am... but not tonight, and hopefully never again.
“No,” I answer. I gather up all my courage and sit back up in my seat. I think of Max. “My boyfriend will be joining me soon.”
Boyfriend.
It feels amazing to say, and it’s the truth... right?
We’ve made love; he’s bought me a dress; we’re going on a date. I’m in a relationship, and not one I’ve just settled for either.
I’m not here just so I’m not alone. I’m here because I love the man who I’m waiting for.
Does he love me? I’m sure of it... but I suddenly realize that he hasn’t actually said the words to me yet.
My insecurities flare back up again.
The waitress’s judgmental eyes haunt me. I swear she huffs at my response.
Am I really not good enough for any man?
She hasn’t even seen what Max looks like, and she’s already surprised that I have a boyfriend?
How bad do I actually look!?
I’m wearing my new dress and everything. I caught my reflection in the window earlier on my way in and I thought I looked pretty good.
Are my standards that low?
This waitress probably gets hit on all the time. She’s probably fighting the guys back.
Will Max hit on her? Will he leave me for her?
My heart sinks and starts to leak with worry.
The waitress snidely pours two glasses of water and leaves without saying another word.
I’m beside myself.
I just stare off into the distance. It’s like I’ve been struck by a lightning bolt of reality.
Has all this joyous passion just been a figment of my overactive imagination? Are all the hints of Max’s affection for me just my own creations? Has it all been in my head?
I panic.
I think about him waiting for me at the baggage claim. I think about last night and this morning. I think about the dressing room...
I close my eyes and shake my head.
No, this is real.
It’s the waitress who’s gotten into your head, you silly girl. It’s this negativity that’s of your own creation.
Max is your light out of this darkness.
I think of him and I’m led away from the bad thoughts.
“Hey there, beautiful,” I hear his deep, gruff voice whisper from behind me.
I feel his soft, wet lips plant their love on my cheek from behind. His towering presence eases my fraying nerves. He steps around to the other side of the table and sits down in his seat.
I open my eyes.
There he is. The man of my dreams.
I run my hand under the table cloth and pinch my leg. It hurts. I’ve never been so happy to be hurt. I’m awake. This is real. He is real... and he’s mine.
“You look amazing,” he beams at me. “You really make that dress look good.”
I barely even blush -- I’m filled up with a renewed sense of confidence.
17
Max
Emma blinks at me with the most innocent, pure passion I’ve ever experienced.
I notice that her eyes are a little wet. Almost like she had been about to cry before I sat down.
“How are you?” I ask.
I reach out my hands across the table and she takes them in hers. Her fingers are so soft and tender. I caress her with all my love as we gaze deep into each other’s soul.
Her fluttering eyes dry up.
I see only happiness in her now.
“I’m good, now that you’ve shown up,” she sighs.
I let one of my hands fall from her touch and I reach down into my jacket pocket.
“I got something for you on my way here,” I say.
I pull out the sleek black box.
“Oh, Max. You shouldn’t have. This dress is more than enough for me!”
I only smile.
“Gibberish. You better get used to be spoiled, missy.”
We laugh together.
I push the box closer to her. She takes it and hesitantly opens it up.
It’s so bright that I can almost see the glow in her big brown eyes.
She gasps in shock.
“Oh my God! It’s gorgeous!” she squeals.
“Then it will look right at home on you,” I grin.
She takes the necklace out of the box and I stand up from my seat. I step around the table and behind her chair.
Emma hands me the necklace and I place it around her soft, elegant neck. I latch it into place and let it fall onto her bosom.
I rest a hand on her tender shoulder. She reaches up and caresses my fingers. With her other hand, she holds the necklace against her heart.
I kiss her on the cheek and savor her affection before reluctantly heading back to my seat.
Our waitress has arrived.
I settle back into place and get ready to order us a bottle of wine. I’m not sure how much the older couple who owns the restaurant is willing to comp us, but I’m more than willing to pay for the rest if we end up spending too much.
I scan the wine list for a brief moment before I get fed up with not looking at Emma. She’s right across the table; how can I keep my eyes off of her?
There’s only so many hours we can spend together in a day. I need to appreciate every second.
I put down the wine list and look up at the hovering waitress.
She looks shocked, like she’s already guessed what I’m going to say.
I chuckle. “Bring us your most expensive bottle of red wine, please,” I order.
The waitress doesn’t respond. Her gaze is transfixed on Emma. I swear I can see that her lip subtly curling, as if in derision. It makes me uncomfortable. Do they know each other?
“Excuse me, miss?” I snap my fingers and she finally breaks out of her daze.
“One bottle of your most expensive red wine, please.”
“Uh... Yes... Yes, sir. Sorry, sir,” she bumbles. “Right away.”
She turns around and marches off without even taking our wine menus from the table.
Well, I guess when you take a free meal, you get what you pay for. I just hope that the food is better than the service.
I turn my attention back to Emma.
“That was weird, huh?” I note. “Do you two know each other?”
Emma pauses for a moment before sheepishly shaking her head.
“No,” she says quietly.
Hmm.
“I didn’t really like the look she was giving you. Did you notice?”
There’s another pause before Emma finally nods. “Yeah.”
Yet another pause fills the air between us. It’s like she’s holding something back.
“What’s the matter, honey?” I prod. I only want her to be happy.
“I don’t think she likes me very much,” she says.
“Who? You mean, the waitress?”
“Yeah...”
I don’t doubt her. I saw the look she was giving Emma. I knew that something was wrong.
“Why?” I ask.
“Well... sometimes... I’m a bigger girl, obviously; there’s no secret about that... it... it makes me an easy target for bullies... don’t worry about it though.
I’m used to it. Plus, I don’t really care anymore. I’m with you; I think she’s jealous.”
I feel a myriad of emotions run through the gauntlet of my heart.
First, I’m sad that Emma has to go through this kind of shit; then I’m angry that anyone would put her through it; then I’m glad that she feels so comfortable around me.
I reach out across the table again and we take each other’s hands.
Her touch fills me with warmth and comfort.
“I’ll go ask for a new waitress... Mary and Bill should be here soon. I can talk to them.”
Emma is clearly uncomfortable with the thought of causing a fuss. She doesn’t object, though.
We gaze into each other’s eyes, hand in hand, and I feel an overwhelming desire to protect her. My love for her swells to a fevered pitch. The words just flow out of my mouth.
“I love you.”
18
Emma
Oh my God. He actually said it!
I knew that he cared deeply for me; I even dared to imagine that he might actually have fallen in love with me, but I didn’t really know what to expect, especially after my whole inner crisis with the waitress just moments ago.
I struggle to speak. My heart races and my chest heaves. My face feels hot; I’m sure I’m blushing a bright shade of pink or red.
I caress his hands until I can steady myself enough to reply. His touch fills me with warmth and comfort.
“I love you too,” I finally whisper.
We both learn forward and share a soft but passionate kiss over our table.
When our lips part, the waitress is standing above us. She has our wine.
I’m in heaven. I don’t care about her earlier transgression anymore. Bullies are wind to me now. I’m with Max; I’ll be fine. I have his love to protect me against their mean eyes.
She uncorks the bottle and pours Max’s glass halfway full.
Slowly and silently she turns to bottle to my glass. She pours the wine in fast and close. When my glass is nearly full, she fumbles the bottle.
My overflowing glass is pushed backwards. It tips over and its contents splash all over my brand-new dress. I jump up from my seat and frantically try to brush away the wine. It’s no use. My dress is already stained.