by A. C. Meyer
“Aren’t you funny?”
I laugh and start the car. “And aren’t you beautiful,” I retort back and she smiles. I drive to Itaipava, in the mountain region of Rio.
On the way there, we talk about sports. I tell her how passionate I am about surfing and that, when I was younger, I thought of going pro.
“I even spent a few months in Hawaii training,” I say, and she gets quiet. “Hey, pretty! What’s up?” I ask, looking away from the road for a second to stare at her.
“It’s nothing . . .” she says, and I frown.
“Say it.”
“Sometimes I think of how different the worlds we live in are,” she explains, and I look at her, confused by what she’s saying. “Yeah, Cadu. You come from a wealthy family. You’ve lived abroad, you’ve traveled around, you live in a gorgeous apartment with an ocean view.” She takes a deep breath, without looking at me, then goes on. “I’m the opposite. My family is simple, I live in the suburbs, and the farthest I’ve ever traveled to was to Juiz de Fora with some friends from college. And I’m terrified of airplanes.”
“And what’s the problem with that?” I ask, still confused at her explanation.
“The problem is that I wonder sometimes when you’re going to start losing interest in me when it’s not new anymore,” she says. I see a rest area up ahead and pull over. Once I park, I unfasten my seatbelt and turn to her, unfastening hers and pulling her into a kiss. It’s more intense than I first intended it to be. Once my tongue touches hers, everything around us vanishes and the warmth of her body takes over me. I hear her moaning low and I deepen the kiss, passing an arm around her body and pulling her to me. My other hand goes to her hair and grabs it tight, pulling us even closer. I keep exploring her mouth with my tongue, provoking her. I gradually slow down the kiss until our lips part. Without letting her go and still keeping a hold on her hair, I face her.
“Don’t you ever think that what I feel for you is fleeting or unimportant. I don’t care what you have, if your family is poor, or if you’ve never been abroad. I’m proud of who you are. I think your family must be really together to have raised a woman like you. And I want to be the one to take you to see the world. Starting with our destination—”
“Which you won’t tell me where it is?” She smiles and interrupts me.
I laugh and agree. “Which I won’t tell you where it is yet. And when we take a plane, I’ll hold your hand.” I kiss her again, then fasten her seatbelt; then I do the same to mine and get back on the road with a pleased smile on my face. I start talking to her again, and can tell she feels lighter and less worried.
We kept driving towards the mountain range. I was very curious, but happy to be here. Cadu was excellent company: he was fun, intelligent, and a great listener. Whatever I said, he would listen to carefully. He’s a natural born ladies’ man and the mere thought of that kiss when he stopped the car makes my legs tremble and my stomach twist in nervousness and expectation. I knew things would happen over the weekend. Two people bursting with desire like we are could never take a romantic trip without being all over each other. His silent promises would finally be fulfilled and we’d take the next step in our relationship, which is a big deal for me.
We were having an animated conversation about movies when I saw the sign which read Petropolis. I was ecstatic. I loved the city, but before I could say anything, he drove on, keeping the car on the road. I opened and closed my mouth like a fish, not knowing what to say.
“Is everything okay?” he asks, laughing.
“Er . . . sure! I just thought . . .” I start to say, confused, and he laughs a bit more.
“We’re almost there, pretty.” He holds my hand and kisses it, making me sigh. He drives a little farther on the main road until we reach the exit to Itaipava and he smiles at me, taking the exit.
“Itaipava?” I ask.
Petropolis is a beautiful town filled with wonderful places to visit, besides having lots of bars and restaurants. He looks quickly at me, smiles and winks, focusing again on the road. We stay silent, enjoying the song that’s playing on the stereo. About a quarter of an hour later, he parks the car in front of what must be the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen. Then he gets out and opens the door for me, holding my hand to help me. My jaw is dropped while I take in this magical place. I face him, unable to say a word, then look back ahead.
Built on a sloped hill, the three-floor house is constructed of a light wood, reminding me of a mountain cottage—though, calling this house a “cottage” is a complete understatement. The glass walls around the house give the rustic building a modern touch. The front of the house is adorned with an explosion of colors from the most magnificent garden I’ve ever seen.
“Let’s go in,” he says to me, intertwining his fingers in mine. The colder air of the mountains is all around us and makes me shiver, and Cadu pulls me closer, surrounding me in his heat.
He opens the door with a key he retrieves from his pocket and then pushes me gently inside the house. I look around and I’m even more astonished. The living room has a high ceiling and its walls and foundation are made of stone and wood and the ceiling is lined with twisted bamboo. The furniture, a mix of old and new, combines soft textures with colors and prints, making everything special and cozy. In the corner of the room, a lit fireplace provides the nice warmth I feel once we step inside. The odd thing is that this isn’t the house of a single man. Not at all. It’s the house of a happy and united family. I can picture people together around the fireplace, sitting in the living room talking while kids run around the place. Oh, gosh! What am I thinking?
“Welcome to my home,” he says, wearing such a big smile that I can’t help but laugh at his joy.
“I thought you lived in Leblon and that this was more of a country house,” I say, feeling kind of embarrassed in calling this mansion a country house. Oh, Mari, you always say the wrong thing!
“Don’t people say home is where your heart is? Mine is here,” he says, and there’s a tenderness in his voice. “It belonged to my grandparents. I used to come here a lot during my childhood and my teen years. I love this place and everything it meant to my grandparents. Our family used to get together for parties, birthdays, holidays here. And when they passed, they left it to me.”
“It’s a beautiful house. Thank you for bringing me here and sharing this with me,” I say, feeling emotional. I stand on my tiptoes to kiss him softly on the lips. When we part, he looks at me and smiles, seeming happy.
“Come, let me show you the rest.” He grabs my hand and takes me on a tour around the house.
I knew it would be beautiful, but I somehow managed to be even more astonished at the beauty around me. It was no surprise why he loved this house. Not only was it beautiful, but it was also extremely comfortable and cozy. We passed by a gorgeous dining room, followed by the “boys’ room,” which was a type of game room with a pool table, a table for playing cards, and a huge TV. He shows me his “toys” and I lean on the pool table while he speaks. Until a different look crosses his eyes and he comes closer. His hands lean on the sides of my body, locking me between him and the table. I feel my body shaking when he comes even closer, taking his face to my neck. He breathes in deeply, sending goose bumps down my body, and if he wasn’t holding me, I would’ve surely fallen down, unable to keep my legs steady.
“Your perfume drives me crazy, do you know that?” he asks. I shake my head no. “Seeing you leaning here makes me imagine you lying on this table with your hair loose around you . . .” He breathes deeply again and takes a small step back. “Come, let’s see the rest before I change my mind,” he says, then intertwines his hand in mine again, taking me upstairs.
The second floor is where the bedrooms are. He shows me two big guest rooms, both with bathrooms attached and a beautiful mountain view. The third room was definitely intended for children. Filled with toys
, two bunk beds and two cribs, it’s decorated with adorable animal prints.
“My grandma designed this room. She wanted my parents and my uncles and aunts to be able to bring all of us over comfortably.”
“It’s beautiful, Cadu,” I say sincerely, touched by all the love that surrounds this place. When we leave that room, we stop in front of the very last door. He opens it and speaks with a smile, while he leads me inside the master bedroom.
“This is my room.” His smile widens and his eyes sparkle while he talks. “I’d be very happy if you’d share it with me this weekend.” I feel my face warming and I’m sure I’m getting red. I look down to the floor and seek the courage within me to tell him what he wants to hear.
“Nothing would make me happier than sleeping in your arms.” He holds my hand tighter and pulls me to him.
Our eyes are locked on one another and I can see a glimpse of desire and happiness in him. He smiles at me and I smile back, feeling hopelessly in love. He awakens feelings in me I never felt toward anyone. With his free hand, he caresses my face, his eyes studying my lips. I see him slowly lowering his face to me, putting his lips on mine. It’s a slow, soft and almost chaste kiss. When we slowly break apart, he smiles warmly at me, making him look like a boy while he whispers in my ear, “Thank you. Come, there’s more to see.”
Holding my hand, he takes me back to the hall. We climb another set of stairs and reach the most beautiful area yet. At the top of the house, surrounded by glass walls from floor to ceiling, there’s a beautiful hexagonal pool. The wood floor makes it cozier, and though it’s a bit cold, I’m tempted to take a swim.
“It’s warm,” he tells me, noticing the way I’m looking at the water. “At night, we’ll dine up here, and you can swim if you want.” His smile widens.
“I didn’t bring a swimsuit,” I say, and if it’s even possible, his smile is even bigger now.
“I wouldn’t mind you skinny dipping,” he whispers and I feel my face getting hot. Cadu laughs and hugs me. “I love the way you react, you know? I knew you would get all pretty and red like that.”
He kisses the top of my head and, still holding me, pulls me to a glass door that leads us to a large patio. It’s so big that you could easily host a party there. The pool goes on to the patio, now in the wide open, its sides surrounded with stones. He takes us to the edge and an amazing view of the top of Itaipava opens up before our eyes.
“Wow . . .” I murmur, looking at that view. “It’s beautiful here, Cadu.”
“It’s even better at night. Because we’re in the mountains and there are so many trees and the air is clearer, if we’re lucky and the weather doesn’t change, we’ll have a magical starry night.” He smiles and runs his fingers over my cheek. Then something crosses his mind and he’s serious again. “I’m glad you came, Mari. I’m happy I can share this with you.”
“I’m glad you invited me. It’s amazing.” I smile at him, happy we’re finally getting some quality time together to get to know each other better. I face the view again and then feel his eyes on me. I turn to face him and I’m weirded out at how he’s looking at me. “What’s up?” I ask, frowning and worrying that I might have somehow offended him or been disrespectful in any way, but I can’t think of anything I might have done wrong.
“It’s nothing, pretty,” he says, shaking his head and hugging me, while we gaze out at the most beautiful view of the city.
Cadu
We spent a lovely day together. Yes, I was still doubtful sometimes, even suspicious, like when we were inside and she said she was glad I invited her. At that moment, I feared she was happy just because the house was so amazing. I’ve had my share of people who were with me only for my money, and every now and then I would remember the conversation I had with my brother. But then she would look at me with her girly eyes, seeming so worried, and I forgot about everything else and all I could think about was pulling her to me.
After showing her the house, I took her to see the city. We spent the day exploring Itaipava’s city center. Mari bought lots of souvenirs for her mother and some for her friends, including Lais, but what really surprised me was the face she made when I took out my wallet to pay for them. She looked so annoyed, and before I had a chance, she took her own money and paid for her shopping. It came as a surprise to me, since the women I usually date expect me to pay not only for our expenses but also for their shopping. Her behavior baffled me, and I didn’t know what to think of it. After we had walked around for a while, I took her for lunch at an Italian restaurant near the center of the city. For a couple of hours, we talked, laughed, and played with each other. After lunch, we took the car and drove to Itaipava’s Castle, a medieval castle that now hosts parties and is rarely opened for visitors. But I was able to pull a few strings and got us a guided tour. She spent the whole afternoon walking around the many rooms of the castle, asking countless things to the tour guide while I couldn’t peel my eyes away from her, thinking of all the conflicting feelings she’s awakened in me.
When we reached the castle’s library, she looked like she was about to break down in tears. Mari stopped in front of the huge shelves and admired all the rare books with a sort of reverence in her eyes that I have never seen before.
“Oh, my God!” she whispers, gazing at a book.
“What happened?”
“It’s a very old copy of The Little Prince,” she explains, looking at me with her eyes filled with tears. I watch her, not knowing how to deal with the fact that she’s nearly crying over an old book.
“This copy is a very special, very old and very rare edition. It was donated to us by a collector.” As the guide explains, she gives him her full attention. They talk and she asks countless questions about the titles on the shelves, and I’m suddenly angry at myself for thinking that she could ever act untruthfully or underhanded. All the time, Mari shows nothing but integrity and it was unfair of me to be so doubtful of her.
When we leave the castle, night is already falling upon us and it is much colder. We hold hands and I pull her in for a hug when I see her shivering. She looks at me and smiles, and I feel my heart racing. I’m looking forward to tonight. We are going to take our relationship to the next level, and I will finally have her exactly where I’ve wanted her since the moment I first noticed her that day in my office, a few weeks ago.
We get in the car and after I start it, I pull her to me for a quick kiss. She smiles as we pull away and she pushes a lock of hair behind her ear. I turn to face the street, ready to leave, when she calls my name.
“Cadu?”
“Yes, pretty?” I answer, looking at her again.
“Thanks.”
“What for?” I ask, confused.
“For this wonderful day. I’ll never forget that you gave me the chance to take a look at that copy of The Little Prince. The whole day was wonderful. But it’s the kind of thing I might have never had a chance to see if it wasn’t for you.” She sounds so humble that it warms my heart.
“You don’t need to thank me. I loved our day together too.” I smile back. “You’re really fond of The Little Prince, aren’t you?”
“I love it. I love reading, but that book is so special. It teaches so much,” she answers with a smile, and I smile back, thinking about the shopping I’d do while she showers before dinner.
We come back from the amazing visit to Itaipava’s Castle and Cadu leaves me in the en suite bathroom so that I can shower and get ready for the night. I’ve had butterflies in my stomach all day long, but right now I feel my legs shaking and my stomach is clenching. I’m no fool. I know what will happen tonight. I’ve been waiting for this since the day we had our first kiss. But knowing doesn’t make it any easier. Nor did it lower my expectations. I enter the shower, letting the hot water fall over me, hoping it will wash away all the fear and anguish I feel. Yeah, of course I’m afraid. I haven’t been with
anyone in two years. No relationship, no boyfriend, no sex. And now I have a relationship, a boyfriend, and I will surely have sex tonight. With him. The man who takes my breath away and makes me feel like I am floating in the clouds. The man I am in love with.
I step out of the shower and go back to the bedroom to get dressed, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around me. When I cross the door, I find him lying on the bed, his arms crossed under his head, staring at the ceiling. Then he notices me and locks his eyes on mine. I knew I should’ve taken my clothes with me to the bathroom when I went there. But I’m not used to sharing a room with another person. A man, specifically. By the time I remember all that, it is too late. I feel my whole body on fire.
“I’m sorry,” I say, looking away and holding my towel around me as if my life depended on it.
“Sorry about what? For being one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen?” he asks and my eyes widen, feeling my face flush even more. “You’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met. And when you’re like that, with no makeup, with your hair wet and almost naked, just a few feet away, it’s the sexiest thing I’ve seen in a long time.”
I breathe deep, trying to shake away my embarrassment, then turn to the closet where I put my things while I answer.
“I’m most definitely not one of the most beautiful women you’ve ever seen, but thanks for the compliment,” I say with a smile. “I’m glad you’re pleased.”
Before I have a chance to open the door to grab a change of clothes, his crushing presence pushes me against the door, turning me to him. Each of his arms is on one side of me and his body is so close I can feel every inch of him. He lowers his head, touching my neck with his mouth, his mouth making a trail from my clavicle and up, crossing my neck until it reaches my ear.
“Never doubt when I tell you how gorgeous and sexy you are,” he says, his tongue touching my earlobe. I feel my body shiver in response, and when he senses my reaction, he trembles. He lays a hand on my waist, pulling me closer against him, pressing our bodies tight together and allowing me to feel his arousal against my belly. “You’re sexy, beautiful, and I won’t hear any more of that.”