Silence

by J. E. Taylor

  “You first.”

  I watched the coming soon slides. “I haven’t seen An Officer and a Gentlemen, yet,” I said with a shrug. “I heard it was good.”

  “It is pretty good,” he said. “What else?”

  “There isn’t a lot out right now that I want to see, but some of the previews for movies coming out next month look really good.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like Rambo and Halloween III.” I sent a grin his way when I added the horror film to the mix.

  Before he had a chance to comment, the lights dimmed. By the middle of the movie, I had moved from my seat into his lap, curling into him as we watched. Both of us jerked when the face popped out of the closet. Eric’s heart pounded against my shoulder in time with mine and his grip around me tightened through the final scenes.

  When the lights came up, I unfolded and met his gaze, but I didn’t get up just yet. His slow smirk and raised eyebrow pulled a nervous laugh from my lips. I slid off his lap and stood, moving so he could join me. We didn’t speak until he’d unlocked the car door and stood with his hand on the handle.

  He seemed to be battling some internal narrative and when he looked at me, whatever debate he was engaged in crumbled. He reached for me, pressing me against the door and catching another heart-stopping kiss.

  His hands slid around me, lifting me right off my feet as he pressed me to his full, well-defined form. My arms snaked around his neck, holding on to both him and his lips as long as I could, because I had the sinking feeling that this was it. My inexperience would yet again wedge itself between what might be possible.

  “I’d like to see you again,” he said when he set me down on the pavement and opened the car door.

  I just nodded, unable to form a coherent syllable as he shut the door. My mind was slow to compute what he just said and the minute it did, my heart leaped out of my chest with joy. “I’d like that, too,” I whispered in the empty space as my eyes tracked him from my side of the car to the driver’s side.

  “Are you busy next Saturday?” he asked as he navigated the short trip back to my house.

  “No.” And even if I was, I would clear my calendar for another chance at kissing him like that.

  “Think you’d like to see An Officer and a Gentlemen with me?”

  I smiled and glanced out the window before I met his questioning stare with a quiet nod. I didn’t dare speak. I didn’t want to ruin this feeling of finding something with the potential to be special. It had the possibility of keeping my attention for more than what my past track record of two to three months max suggested. I didn’t want to jinx it with words.

  He tilted his head waiting for me to speak.

  “I would love to.” I bit my lip trying to keep the next question from tumbling out, but I couldn’t stop it, nor could I suppress the pathetic hope in my tone. “Do I have to wait that long to see you again?”

  His musical laugh filled the car. “I’ll find out what my schedule for next week is tomorrow, and I’ll let you know. I might be able to squeak in a visit between now and then.” He sent a wink in my direction.

  I couldn’t tell if he was toying with me or not, but he had asked me out on another date, so this one couldn’t have been so bad, even with my earlier declaration. All I knew at that moment, was I wanted to get lost in his kiss and never come up for air.

  Silence Chapter 14

  I pulled into Brooke’s driveway on Sunday afternoon, still grinning from the lasting euphoria of the prior night’s date. She caught the perpetual grin and smiled as she slid into the passenger seat.

  “I take it the date was that good?”

  I hadn’t had a chance to talk with her this morning, but I knew we were going shopping today, so I waited instead of calling her the minute I woke. I just nodded and my grin widened. “He asked me to go out with him again Saturday.”

  “That’s great!” Brooke said and it wasn’t one of those fake “that’s great” that people say just to move on to a different subject. Brooke really meant it. “So where’s he taking you this time?”

  “He’s taking me to see An Officer and a Gentlemen in East Hartford.”

  “Nice.”

  “What about you? What did you do yesterday?”

  “I went to visit my Dad.” She didn’t offer any more information, and I didn’t push. Sometimes, she talked about her parent’s divorce and other times, she just left the conversation alone.

  “Did you at least have fun?”

  She smiled and nodded. Times with her Dad were usually good, it was the returning home to her Mom that could be a crapshoot. I left it alone and sighed.

  “So tell me about the date?”

  “We went to see Poltergeist,” I said and could feel my dimples forming. “And he kissed me.” I shot a glance in her direction before I took the turn to the Parkade shops.

  “Yeah?” Her eyebrows shot up with interest.

  I nodded and while I’m usually quiet about such things, the magnitude with which his kisses stunned me wasn’t something I could keep quiet. “He is an exceptional kisser.”

  “Exceptional?” She chuckled. I’m not sure I’ve ever verbally categorized someone that way before and she found it amusing.

  “Yeah. Like, can’t breathe kind of kiss, or completely losing myself kind of kiss. I could see myself never stopping.”

  “Wow. That good?”

  “Yeah. Scary how good it was.” I pulled into the parking spot and set the brake before turning the car off. “It was the kind of kiss that could get me in trouble.” The admission caught her off guard.

  “Really?” She made no move to get out of the car, just stared at me in disbelief.

  She knew I had no experience beyond kissing and being felt up. She also knew I wasn’t all that interested in taking things farther, or hadn’t been up ’til now. I remember telling her it had to feel right and it hadn’t felt right with anyone yet. As much as I said I loved Dan, I wasn’t ready on any level to let him into my pants. I was reserving both third base and my virginity for someone special.

  “Yeah. It’s the kind of kiss that could charm the pants right off of me.” The admission threw me as much as it did Brooke, and then we both grinned. “I just hope that’s not all he’s after,” I added and got out of the car.

  Shopping took most of our attention, but my mind kept moving back to Eric and I found myself smiling in the dressing room mirror, and I’d shake my head and roll my eyes at my lost look.

  “You feel like taking a detour?” I asked as we slid into the car with our shopping bags.

  Brooke bit her lip. Most detours ended up with me hitting something, but I really wanted to see Eric and I wanted her to see him, just to prove he was real. I also wanted to see if he had the same effect on me in the daylight as he had had on Saturday night.

  “Sure,” she said after a moment.

  I grinned. “I think he’s working, if not, we’ll just swing around and grab an ice cream at Friendly’s or something.”

  All the excuses for swinging into the hardware store swirled in my head and when we pulled into the parking lot, I bit my lip and looked at Brooke, wondering if I was being an idiot or not. As anxious as I was to see him, I also didn’t want to appear like a stalker. His car wasn’t in the parking lot, but then again, I knew he also had a bike and there were several of those present.

  I sighed, and slid out of the car on legs that carried me, even with the slight tremors radiating up from my feet. Nerves made me second guess my decision, but Brooke barreled ahead and held the door open for me to lead the way.

  The jangle of the door brought his gaze up from the paper he was reading and his eyebrows arched before the slow smile crept across his lips. I don’t think he even looked beyond me until we were standing at the counter and his gaze tore away from mine, becoming polite, and not that sharp animalistic stare he tracked me with.

  “Eric, this is my friend Brooke. Brooke, Eric,” I introduced, my voice wavering
a little.

  “Nice to meet you,” he said, offering his hand and shaking hers before he turned his full attention to me. “You couldn’t wait, could you?” He grinned and leaned on the counter.

  I rolled my eyes and sighed, meeting his gaze. I had no response beyond a shrug and my eyes dropped to the floor. Heat filled my cheeks.

  “I’m glad,” he added softly, pulling my gaze back to him. The door jingled and he stood, adopting a more serious air. “I’ll give you a call tonight.” He turned toward the new customer and put on a smile. It wasn’t nearly as radiant as the one he reserved for me and I took that as my cue, starting for the door. Before I reached the parking lot, a hand wrapped around my arm, stopping me.

  I turned toward the owner, although just from the electricity that flowed through me, I already knew it was Eric. He did a quick scan of the store and then leaned forward, pressing his lips to mine. The brief contact left me breathless.

  “I couldn’t let you leave without that.” His hand dropped and he smiled, turning back toward his obligations and leaving me in utter silence.

  “Wow,” Brooke’s declaration pulled me back to reality and I continued to the car, still reeling from the effect the man had on me.

  “No shit,” I said, and took a seat in the car.

  “He’s seriously into you.”

  I stared at her and then glanced at the store. “You think so?”

  “Yes. He lit up when you walked in. I’d say he’s just as taken with you as you are with him.”

  Brooke was a hopeless romantic, but this time, instead of just rolling my eyes at her, I hoped like hell she was right.

  Silence Chapter 15

  I glanced in the mirror at my grey flared skirt and the pale pink button down top. This was the first time Eric asked me to something other than a movie, and he said to dress up for dinner. I hoped this qualified as dressing up. It was more sophisticated than my matching peasant shirt and skirt, but still felt like it screamed high school. The sandals were simple, with a non-existent heel. It was next to impossible to find shoes that looked my age when my foot size was a child’s size two. Everything about me was petite, too china-dollish for my taste, with one exception. And it was that exception that drew a line of dates to my door. My chest was not in the china doll category, it fell more into the land of Playboy and Penthouse.

  The doorbell rang, pulling me from my lament. My mother’s voice carried up the stairs and I headed towards it, yelling, “I’m coming.”

  A glance at the clock told me he was right on time, and tonight, I’d have the benefit of his company for a full five hours. He had on a nice pair of black slacks and a white dress shirt and just looked as stunning as I imagined. His smile widened and I traded a glance with my parents.

  “I should have her home by midnight,” he was saying and my father nodded, satisfied with whatever plans Eric had laid out before I got downstairs.

  “Enjoy yourselves,” both my parent’s said and we nodded.

  Eric opened the car door for me per usual, which was a nice touch and something I was not used to with all my prior dates. He pulled out of the driveway and glanced at me, his gaze wary as he licked his lips.

  “Do you party?” he asked in such a timid tone that I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Define party?” I said, sending a smirk in his direction. I’d never really talked about my past with him, and I certainly didn’t announce the laundry list of drugs I had experimented with since my freshman year.

  “Do you smoke pot?” he asked, worry lines appeared around his eyes and he bit his lower lip like the question could spawn my wrath.

  “Yes.” I left it as a simple answer and the relief that swept through him was visible.

  “Drink?”

  I just grinned. “What else have you tried?” I asked, turning the tables on him. His eyebrows rose like he didn’t know what else was out there, but I was sure he knew, especially if he liked to get high.

  “Nothing, why?”

  I turned away, hiding my smile. I may be naive in the bedroom, but I had a wealth of experiences on him in the drug department. “Just wondering.”

  “Why? What have you tried?” His questioning eyes implored me to explain and I just grinned. When I didn’t expand anymore, he sighed and looked back at the road. “Do you mind if we ditch dinner and a movie and go to a party at one of my friend’s houses?” The timid nature of the question almost made me laugh at him again, but the nervous quality of his voice quieted my reaction.

  “I’m game.” I was always up for a party. “But I do have to eat something.”

  The sparkle returned to his eyes and a suggestive eyebrow rose.

  “Food. I need food before I party.” The clarification only brought forth deeper dimples.

  “So, you’re a party girl. I never would have guessed that.”

  “Well, I’m glad I give off the good girl vibe,” I said. “It’s kind of a necessity at home.”

  “So, back to my original question, what have you tried?” He pulled onto the highway, heading west.

  “Beyond pot and alcohol, I’ve tried speed, Quaaludes, and dropped acid a few times.”

  The way his head whipped towards me made me want to disappear.

  “I dated a couple of dealers,” I mumbled, trying to blend into the seat.

  “Acid can be dangerous,” he said.

  “Yeah, the first time wasn’t so much fun. My ex gave me a gumdrop at a concert, and after I ate it, he told me it was acid. It made for a very stressful night. But the next couple of times, I was aware beforehand and had a chance to enjoy it without almost freaking out.”

  His hand slid from the stick shift to the bare skin of my thigh, like the admission to doing acid gave him permission to feel me up. I stared at his hand, conflicted by the warmth radiating through me and the audacity of his timing. Instead of responding by pushing it off my skin, I threaded my hand over his.

  He glanced at our intertwined hands and then me before looking back at the road. “So, party girl, were you bullshitting me about being a virgin?”

  I huffed. “No. I may party like a rock star, but I don’t fuck around like one.”

  A grin appeared. “You have quite the mouth.”

  “You have an issue with fuck?” I asked, toying with him.

  The way his gaze slid to mine nearly stopped my heart. “I have no issues with fucking, as a matter of fact, I like fucking.”

  This was going somewhere I would rather not go and I pressed my lips together at the various responses that popped into my head.

  “I have a feeling, you’d like it, too.”

  The suggestive quality of his voice drove me wild, and all I could do was let out a nervous laugh. “Is that why you asked me out? Just to get me to bed?”

  His eyelids fluttered and his wolfish smile faded. His fingers curled around mine. “No.” He sighed. “Yes.” His hand unthreaded and found the steering wheel. “I don’t know.”

  The last admission was so soft and serious that I wrapped my arms around myself to find warmth that had suddenly disappeared from the inside of the car.

  “It’s just... when I first saw you, something just clicked. And yes, I want to sleep with you. Who the hell wouldn’t?” He waved his hand at my body and his gaze pierced mine. “But I also want to kiss every damned inch of you, and hold you, and protect you from guys like me.” Another sigh followed. “More than I’ve ever wanted anything else in my life.”

  The last admission rocked my world and melted whatever ice I had built up around my heart over the past few years. I still wasn’t ready for the kind of physical relationship he expected, but if this continued to grow into something bigger than just a flirt-fest, he just might be the guy to not only steal my heart, but also pop my cherry.

  Silence layered over us and eventually his hand found its way back into mine. My mind kept turning the conversation over like one of those stupid Rubic’s cubes. Trying to put all the pieces in the right order. I wa
sn’t sure if I should be flattered or offended and while I wanted the ice wall to remain in place, his heat melted it, leaving me vulnerable.

  When we pulled into the driveway of a West Hartford mansion, my gaze bounce between the mammoth house and his smiling eyes.

  “My friend is house sitting,” he said, like he felt the need to explain.

  “And having a party?” There were no cars in the driveway, but the music that thrummed on the air gave credence to his nod. “Isn’t that...” I trailed off.

  “Dangerous?” he whispered in my ear before stealing a kiss.

  I laughed. “Irresponsible,” I said when our lips parted.

  “Probably, but the owner is cool.” He slipped out and opened my door, helping me out of the car. “You really look hot in that,” he said and his hand found the small of my back as he led me to the rear entrance.

  It wasn’t a big party, but there was food and booze and some really good weed that Eric called Maui-wowie. We hung out until after dark and Eric gave me a tour of the place, going from room to overly decorated room until we ended in the garage. I whistled at the array of fine cars and he pushed me against the wall.

  His hands wandered to my chest and he unbuttoned the top buttons of my shirt, kissing my throat and the exposed flesh of my breasts. I didn’t know how to feel about the fact he chose the garage to feel me up, as opposed to any number of bedrooms we’d toured, and when his gaze met mine, I figured it out. This was safer than the bedrooms. If he started something there, that look told me he wouldn’t stop.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he said and pushed away from me, taking my hand and leading me through the house. We said our goodbyes and his friend slid him a few joints for the road. With a nod, we were out of there and it wasn’t even eight yet.

  He drove past the theaters and I glanced at him, at the blush filling his cheeks. He gazed in my direction and this time, his hand moved from its place on my thigh. The progression was slow as he concentrated on the road and the conflict in me rose with every inch he crossed.