A Dozen Dates

by Mitchell, Missy

  Gemma went under the water - the first thing she saw... the red dye clouding around her face; and then she was pulled up. She looked a wreck - her perfectly formed spiked hair now hung limp and knotted, and her make-up was trickling shamelessly. Michael laughed and observed, “Still not my girl...” before dunking her again and stirring up her hair with his fingers. He pulled her up... “Nup...” he commented and dunked her yet again, only this time when he pulled her up he cradled her in his arms. “Getting better...” he smiled at her, before gently tilting her back, effectively submerging her hair below the surface of the water.

  “Have you finished?” Gemma complained.

  “No... But I’m making progress,” he said and began to use one hand to try and rinse out some more of the red. Gemma looked up at him and when he smiled she couldn’t help but smile back.

  Michael loved her smile... He watched as the red in her hair slightly faded and it’s now short to medium length billowed around in the water. Her make-up had all but been washed away and she began to look like the wonderful girl he knew again. She was so stupid with her pubescent like attempts at being a popular individual, but he adored her for it all the same. If only she could see how truly perfect her genuine self was. In time she would – he would make sure of that... “You know; if you keep playing with your hair all the time it is going to fall out...”

  Gemma gazed up at him, relaxing in his arms and enjoying the swirl of water he created in and around her hair as he attempted to wash out the dye... What was she thinking..? Michael didn’t even look like the kind of man that would like a punk chick. She wished she knew what his type was...

  He was so beautiful... The muscles in his face were relaxed now, as he smiled gently both with his lips and his kind blue eyes. Gemma wondered what he was thinking... Droplets of water trickled occasionally from his wet hair down over his brow or his cheek. Gemma reached up and brushed one of the droplets with her fingers, before slowly stroking his cheek. She could feel the tiniest pricks of stubble as its length grew through the surface of his skin. She felt the strength in the angle of his jaw, and then with her thumb she stroked the dimple in his chin before bringing the rest of her fingers over to also explore it. She then traced her fingers up to his mouth... his soft lips where she had found her Zen on more than one occasion. Michael parted them slightly and she felt his humid breath, warm and erotic on her fingers before he took them inside to an even warmer place. He gently closed his lips down over them, sending seductive sensations all through her body. She felt him begin to kiss and suckle on them and it made her light headed. She looked into his eyes – they were misty and staring back at her. Gemma swallowed – she knew what she wanted... She wanted to kiss him.

  What harm could kissing him again possibly do..? She slowly pulled her fingers from Michael’s mouth and he sighed in complaint, and then she slid her hand around to the back of his neck. Gemma slid her other hand up his arm and grabbed hold of his shoulder and lifted herself... her face up to his and leaned in and started to tenderly kiss him, tasting his wet sweetness.

  Michael sighed and welcomed the kiss as he let her legs fall and held her by the rib cage. He kissed her back, fervently, aching and hungry for her. He loved the feel of her fingers as she combed them through his hair, massaging his scalp. He loved the way she poked her tongue in his mouth and eagerly wrestled with his own. He loved the coy way she opened her eyes every now and then to make sure everything was okay... He loved the way she lifted her sexy legs and wrapped them around him when he slid one hand around and grabbed her under her bottom. Michael moaned in pleasure at how much he was loving her...

  Gemma hooked her ankles behind Michael’s back and sat comfortably into his hand. She kissed him like it was their last – just in case it was. She moaned as his strong fingers threatened to tear open her shorts as they tried to dig into the flesh of her behind and she began to feel that delicious aching inside and she recalled the day at the Rainforest when Michael touched her and took away that ache – she wished he would touch her again.

  Michael knew he shouldn’t – the last thing he needed at that moment was her bare breasts pressed against him, but he couldn’t resist. With the hand still on her ribs, he reached around and untied her bikini top at the back and then undid the tie at her neck. He stopped kissing her and pulled his head back to watch the fabric of her tiny swimwear dance loosely around in the water, occasionally exposing the dark pink flesh of the areola. Gemma wasn’t flinching... Not even when he grabbed the cloth and flung it out of the pool. He stared at her breasts as they floated, buoyant on the density of the water, her nipples erect and dark now in the early evening sky. He pulled her into him, lightly feeling her nipples poke and tickle his chest.

  Gemma gasped in delight as the sparse but rough hair of his chest delightfully scratched at her sensitive nipples and she leant in to kiss him again, before allowing her head to fall back. She sighed as she pushed her breasts into him, rubbing them over his firm chest, tantalising them both. She moaned when Michael began to nibble and kiss first her neck and then her full bobbing breasts. She unlinked her feet only to run one down the back of his leg and back up again before hitching them back together. She raised her head and Michael began kissing her again.

  Gemma was hungry for him and she wrapped her arms around his neck and angled her head to kiss him as deeply as she could. She moaned when both Michael’s hands squeezed at her bottom and clawed her close to him, so close she could feel his male form pushing at her where Michael’s hand had been the previous week.

  Michael moaned as Gemma seemed to push and rub herself up against his already painfully hard phallus – the warmth of her petals devastating his senses... He knew removing her top was a bad idea, but he didn’t imagine it would be this painful. He moaned as Gemma kissed him passionately and then all of a sudden she was sucking on his tongue – oh my god... does she even realise the impact she has? Is she aware how she goes from timid to completely demoralising – how incredibly hard she was to resist... possessing?

  Michael swallowed, his mind almost incapacitated, he slowly pulled his head back and rested his lips on her soft cheek, “Gemma...” Gemma sighed in pain and then chased his mouth with hers, connecting them again. He hopelessly kissed her for another few seconds before tenderly pulling back again. “Gemma...” he whispered before clearing his hoarse throat, “We have to stop now.” Gemma trembled at the thought. She didn’t want to stop! She gasped and moaned and locked her legs tightly around him, pulling herself hard against him.

  He carried her to the step and sat her on it, releasing her bottom from his hands, and then he stroked her back. His loins were suddenly disconnected from hers and Gemma sensed he wanted some distance. She was confused... Then he leant in and started gently kissing her again, making her even more confused. Had she done something wrong? “I’m sorry!” she blurted quietly.

  “Sorry for what?” Michael asked.

  “For what I did wrong...”

  Now Michael was confused, “You didn’t do anything wrong...” He looked at her and smiled, “I promise!”

  Gemma didn’t know what to think or feel and so just stated, “We always end up kissing...”

  Michael smiled, “We do, don’t we..?” Gemma gently smiled back and then looked down, puzzled and a little embarrassed. “I like kissing...” He pulled her head into his chest and to the side and stroked her hair behind her ear.

  “Me too...”

  Michael held her closely, adoring her, the pain in his loins gradually subsiding, his sanity returning.

  “Michael, what number is this?” she inquired.

  “Oh... Kissing and swimming topless in a swimming pool..? Number six! If this was a date, it would be number six,” Michael decided and informed her.

  Chapter Seven

  Gemma left the house about seven-thirty and being Thursday night, decided to go to the shops to get some products to fix her hair. Firstly she got an excellent treatment, and then she got a
toner... Who was she kidding? Her hair was so porous now that even a semi-permanent dye that was supposed to wash out in eight rinses was going to adhere forever. To get the last of the residue out, she was simply going to have to bleach it back blonde.

  Michael was pleased when he saw it... She had a feeling that he preferred her hair longer, but it would grow back. She worked all day at the house, though not all in the garden... She helped Sam with some of the last minute painting and decorating and then assigned herself the task of cleaning the windows and bathrooms.

  The day ended and Nathan left to go home. “Let’s all go out to pizza and a movie...” Michael invited the girls.

  “Sure!” said Sam excitedly.

  “Gem?” Michael turned to her.

  Gemma didn’t know what to say... She wasn’t that comfortable with the three of them going out – how would that even work at the movies? The alternative was that she could just let Sam have this night... “I’ll go!” Gemma suddenly blurted out, “Yes!” The idea of allowing Michael and Sam to spend quality time alone, it seems was unbearable to her... That little green monster could sure be impulsive!

  “Yes?” Michael was amused, aware of her paranoia in regards to him and Sam.

  The smell of the pizza place was mouth-watering. They ordered two – “Super Supreme” with anchovies and a “Meat Lovers” with barbeque sauce, and a garlic bread. Michael managed to polish off the equivalent of a whole pizza on his own which he chased down with half the garlic bread and a large cola, and Gemma and Sam shared the rest.

  They went into the movie theatre and Sam picked a row of seats she thought was the most perfect height in respect to the movie screen, and began to move along to the middle before taking her seat. Michael sat down beside her, and again the first thing he did was flick up the arms, creating in a fashion a bench seat, or as he affectionately called it, a “Love Seat;” and then he patted Gemma’s seat, and invited her to take her place beside him. They sipped their frozen Colas, fought over Malteezers and laughed at and discussed the previews for upcoming flicks.

  Then the movie was about to start... Michael suddenly stretched out his arms and made a loud noise like he was yawning and then casually placed an arm behind each of his dates.

  “Get off me, Michael,” Sam scolded him and Michael laughed.

  Gemma wasn’t sure what to do or say... She was glad that Sam didn’t want Michael to put his arm around her, though she wasn’t sure why – apart from the obvious of course... that they were on a three-way date. This was so awkward...

  Maybe that was Sam’s secret..? The more she pushed him away, the more Michael wanted her..? Perhaps that is what she had been doing wrong – making it too easy!

  She liked having his arm around her, but if the only way she was going to get his respect was to deny him, then that was what she was going to have to do... But she couldn’t, could she? Deny him... Deny him when she wanted him so badly. No! That was exactly what she was going to do... What she had to do! Gently Gemma grabbed Michael’s arm and lifted it over her head, and dropped it onto his lap.

  The sound of it landing pricked Sam’s ears and she laughed hard at Michael, making Gemma smile. “Well, this sucks!” Michael turned to face Gemma and smirked; inside he was again intrigued by her monkey boldness, her ability to adapt and her propensity to surprise him. God help him when she does become more streetwise and confident. “That’s the last time I’ll take you pair of bitches to the movies...” Sam laughed at him and so did Gemma – she could tell he was teasing by the blinding glint in his eye.

  She missed his arm as the movie played on, but she could still feel the subtle warmth emanating from his body and she melted into it. Then, about a third of the way through the movie, Michael began gently tickling her forearm with his fingers, stirring her senses, before sliding his hand down and taking her hand in his – her compliantly rolling hers over to accommodate him. She knew she shouldn’t, but she just wanted his touch so much... And she enjoyed it, and him and his presence – even in this ludicrously bizarre situation.

  A little while later Michael slowly inched his way over, and then tenderly turned his head. Gemma turned her sight to his and quickly warmed to his gentle smile before he leaned in and closed his lips over hers and kissed her for a moment. Gemma melted, her eyes flickering over his face as he pulled slightly away, and then, to her relief, he leant back in for another. This time she parted her lips and returned the kiss, and brief though it was, it was enough to leave her floating for the rest of the movie. The rest of the movie where his body inclined slightly toward her and his hand encompassed hers in its vastness, holding her, romantically.

  Gemma wondered if this was one of Michael’s dates. Surely not... Surely it wouldn’t count when there was somebody else there... That would be too unfair.

  The next day at the house, everyone was there! Michael, Nathan and Miranda, Sam and herself... They didn’t exactly work hard, but it was an important day for the next morning it was their open day and people were coming to view the house. The boys were excited, as was Miranda, and even Gemma was – this being her first paid project. And she even wore something a little special - though not weird! On this day she simply opted to wear her favourite denim miniskirt finished with a brown leather belt, her matching leather sandals and a flattering white, halter neck top. She even applied light make-up and wore her hair out.

  Tonight would also be Michael’s last night in the house... After tonight he would have to move his stuff out and stay at Nathan and Miranda’s until they got their next place. But, Nathan and Miranda had already assured Gemma that she could visit any time, in fact, they insisted.

  At the day’s end it was celebration time, and they had a barbeque to commemorate the completion of their first project. “To a quick sale,” declared Nathan as he raised his stubby to toast.

  “I’ll drink to that!” said Miranda, clinking her bottle with that of her fiancé before taking a swig of the refreshing beer inside.

  “Let’s all drink to that...” invited Michael before toasting with firstly Gemma, and then Sam... “A quick sale and a fat paycheque..!”

  Miranda watched as Michael played with Gemma and Sam and she shook her head with humorous disapproval. “Nathan, you need to speak to your brother...”

  Michael grinned, and cried innocently, “What?” Then he chuckled and took another mouthful of his beer...

  “You know what...” Miranda rebuked him, “Nathan?”

  “Yes I will... But I have to get these steaks first,” Nathan claimed as he strategically evaded his fiancé’s request.

  “It’s okay Miranda... I’m a big boy – I can take care of myself,” Michael informed her.

  “It’s not you I’m worried about...” Miranda said as she playfully gave him the evil eye... Michael just snickered.

  “I can take care of them too! Can’t I girls?” Michael boasted, before winking at Gemma.

  “Oh, shut up Michael...” said Sam, rolling her eyes.

  “Don’t be like that Sweet Cheeks,” Michael said. How could Michael be so open and bold about his conflict with his options..? And was that better or worse than hiding it? Gemma’s heart began to race and she needed to get out of there for a minute.

  “Miranda, will the Oysters Kilpatrick be ready now?” Gemma asked.

  “Let’s go check, shall we?” Miranda invited. They went to the kitchen and removed the two dozen, delicious smelling oysters from the oven.

  “Oh yum... Thanks for teaching me how to make them...”

  “It was my pleasure. Michael told us how much you love them and insisted we get some for tonight.” Miranda paused, “He likes you a whole lot, you know...”

  Gemma looked at her and replied, “But I’m not the only one he likes...”

  Miranda could see the trepidation in Gemma’s face, “Gemma, Michael is a comedian... Don’t pay too much attention to his dribble...He really likes you, and...” They walked back out to the patio, and she added in a loud
voice, “Michael knows bigamy is not an option.”

  Nathan stopped turning the sausages and froze for a moment in response to his fiancé’s booming comment, before chuckling - knowing his brother was about to cop it; and continuing with his culinary duties.

  Michael’s cheeky ears pricked up also, and he too froze with his beer but an inch from his mouth, and then he smiled, took a swig, and addressed her, “Oh, I don’t know... Bigamy could have its good points...” Michael claimed and he turned to Gemma and winked. Gemma couldn’t believe her ears, nor could she believe herself when she found herself excited by his stupid wink. Why was she even still sitting there? What was Michael saying?

  “Like what?” Miranda dared him.

  “Yeah Michael... Like what?” Nathan jibed as he placed the generous platter of steaks and sausages in the centre of the plastic table.

  “Brother... You’ll get me into trouble,” Michael told Nathan.

  “You don’t need me to get you into trouble!” Nathan argued.

  “True...” Michael conceded, but then, being that it was in his nature to push things to the edge in a comical fashion, he began to plead his case. “Okay... Well, for instance... Gemma, could you please get me a steak?”

  Gemma looked at him warily, “Huh?” Michael grinned. He was going to have to tread very carefully here...

  “Can you pass me a steak, please..?” Michael paused while Gemma scanned the request for viruses, and then he added softly, “It’s okay, I was just hoping you could put a steak on my plate for me.” He could see her scepticism, but, finally Gemma chose a nice steak and placed it on Michael’s plate. “Good girl,” he praised her and gave her a peck on the cheek, before ignoring the confused though clearly accusing - like wanting to slap him with the steak... kind of look, she was giving him. “Have an oyster...” Michael held an oyster up for her and smiled pleasantly while she accepted it, sucking it from the juicy shell.