by Kim Pritekel
Slipping the fork inside my mouth, I allowed my tongue to taste the myriad of different tastes, all mingled together to create a wonderful taste sensation. I closed my eyes, chewing slowly as I relished the flavors that course through my mouth.
"You have outdone yourself, Haley," I finally managed. "That is certainly worthy of a foodgasm." She looked at me, taken aback.
"A what?"
"Foodgasm. Come on, you’re a food slut. You should understand such terminology." She grinned, shaking her head.
"I’ll certainly have to keep that in mind, and I’m glad you like it." With my seal of approval firmly in place, she began to dig in to her own plate.
Not much was said as we both, famished from a long day with a missed lunch, shoveled forkful after forkful of the paella into our waiting mouths, sipping wine now and then.
Finally dinner was gone, and I was satisfied.
I smiled, as I took a deep breath.
"You really liked that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat a second helping of anything before." Haley smiled as she gathered our dishes, and we carried them to the kitchen.
"Well, it was absolutely delicious. You’ll have to give me the recipe for that."
"You’re going to cook?" she asked, looking at me over her shoulder as she loaded the dishwasher.
"Nah, I’ll give it to my mom so she can make if for me the next time I visit."
"Oh, you’re horrible." She flicked me with the dishtowel. "Ready for dessert?"
"Am I ever not?"
"True. Go pick a movie, and get it started. I’ll bring it out."
Choosing ‘When Harry Met Sally’, I stuck the tape in Haley’s VCR, and pushed play. Soon she joined me, carrying two plates holding generous pieces of black forest cake, topped with raspberries.
"Ohhh, you are a cruel woman, aren’t you," I murmured, my eyes on the cake. Haley grinned, handing me my plate.
The movie finally began after a string of trailers for movies that had long since come and gone. It always amused me how movies dated themselves by their trailers.
Dessert plates put aside, I laid back against two pillows, hands behind my head. Haley copied my position, not a hand’s width away.
"I love this movie," she said, a contented smile on her face.
"Me, too."
"I always had the biggest crush on Meg Ryan." I looked over at her, surprised.
"Really?"
"Yep. Who doesn’t? She’s beautiful, adorable, beyond cute."
"Yeah, I could see what you mean. Would you do her?" Haley’s head whipped over as she looked at me. I was grinning.
"No! She’s far too innocent for that." I laughed out loud.
"What? That whole business with Russell Crowe years ago?"
"Eh, I think she was just trying to shed her image. I mean, that must be terribly exhausting to be so damned cute all the time." I grinned, turning my attention back to the screen.
"Oh, her friend Marie. Now there’s a woman I’ve had a crush on for years."
"Carrie Fisher?"
"Yes, ma’am."
"Really?" She turned onto her side, looking at me. "Why? What is it about her that caught your eye?"
"Oh," I sighed as I thought about it. The crush had been there for so many years, I had no idea how it started now. "Well, for one, she’s cute as hell, I love her eyes. They can look so puppy dog. She’s very intelligent, and is extremely talented as a writer and a comedienne."
Haley glanced at her as she and Meg Ryan’s character talked in the bookstore right before Billy Crystal’s character shows up.
"You know what I think is amusing?"
"What’s that?" Haley asked, scooting over, closer to me, basically sharing my pillow now as we watched.
"This movie is actually relatable. You figure, they met when they were young, didn’t like each other because they were just too young, and it wasn’t the right time. So, they go their separate ways. Meet up nearly twenty years later, and voila. It all just fit then."
"Hmm, yeah, I can see it. At least we liked each other when we were young."
"Isn’t that the truth."
Haley moved, sticking her legs on me, particularly her feet, which blocked a lot of my view of the screen.
"Um, excuse me, Haley?"
"Yes, Andi?"
"Your feet make a fantastic door."
"Oh, good." She wiggled her toes. Getting an evil thought, I lunged up, grabbing her legs, and began attacking her feet, Haley yelling the entire time, trying to get me off of them, but unable to as she was wracked with laughter. "Stop!" she cried, pulling weakly at my hands and arms.
"Nope," I tickled harder, trying to keep up with the struggling bull beneath me, when finally we fell off the mattress, which gave Haley a chance to get away, and turn back on me, her fingers digging into my sides. "Oh, god!" My eyes squeezed shut, trying to breathe through my laughter as I struggled to get away or get even.
We ended up rolling nearly across the living room, headed toward the back wall where the coffee table was.
SMACK!
"Shit!"
Haley rolled over, curled up into a ball on the floor, cradling her head, and groaning.
"Oh, Haley. Oh, man. Are you okay?" I quickly made my way over to her, gathering her head gently onto my lap. She held her upper forehead, eyes closed in pain. "Ah, jeez. I’m sorry,"
"Oh, man. That table is hard," she whined.
"Do you want some ice?" She took her hand away, looking at it.
"No. I think I’m okay. No blood, just a good bruise, I’m sure."
"Yeah, I imagine you’ll have a nice goose egg in the morning. It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Or a head." She grinned, her eyes still closed. "How about some Tylenol? Stave off the pain now?"
"No, thanks, Andi. I’ve got a hard head." She exhaled a breath, feeling around. "Yeah, I can already feel a small bump."
"You poor thing." I held her to me, rocking her gently. She grabbed my arm, hugging it, a smile on her face. She turned herself so her head was laying in my lap, staring up at me.
I looked at her, taking in her features, those incredible eyes. So blue.
"Did you know that you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen? Hell, I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." She smiled up at me, shaking her head. "It’s true. Look at those eyes. Wow," I whispered. "I bet you use them as quite the weapon, don’t you?"
She looked up at me with the most sensuous look, her eyes half-lidded, burning into mine with such intensity.
"Whatever do you mean?" she asked, her voice a mere purr. A shiver shot through me. She smiled, looking up at me.
"You vixen." She smiled.
"You should talk, though, Andi." She reached a hand up, caressing the side of my face. "You’re so beautiful. You know, I feel rather stupid admitting this, but during my last year of grad school, some friends and I managed to scrape some money together, and during spring break we took a three-day cruise around the Caribbean. One morning I woke particularly early for some reason, so I got up and went to the deck of the ship. My hands on the rail, I looked out into the water. As I did, you came to mind, and for a moment I was confused. I hadn’t seen you in a long time by that point, but still, there you were. It took me a moment, but then I understood. It was the water, that beautiful, calm, blue-green water. It matched your eyes so perfectly."
I smiled down at her, never wanting to be anywhere else. I felt drawn to her, that beautiful face, and even more beautiful heart. Our lips touched, gently, just a taste. Haley pulled away, sitting up, and turning to face me. She sat in front of me, our knees touching. She looked at me, her eyes traveling from mine to my lips, then back to my eyes. I leaned in, and so did she, until we met halfway. Her hand came up to me, her fingers losing themselves in the hair at the nape of my neck, mine resting against her knee, kneading the skin it found there.
The kiss was sweet, our lips opening to each other, hot breath being ex
changed as our mouths moved together. I could feel my heart pounding, my body pulsing, matching the beat. I tingled all over as my fingers began to caress her leg, Haley’s hand pushing on my head, bringing me in as close as possible. Haley tilted her head slightly, allowing our lips that much more contact.
But, just as suddenly as the kiss had began, it ended. Haley slowly pulled back, her eyes still closed, a soft smile on her face. She finally opened her eyes, looking at me.
"Let’s finish the movie," she whispered. I nodded, forgetting the movie had even played on.
We made our way back to the mattress, Haley laying on her back, her hand on her head indicating that it still ached from the hit she’d taken. I laid next to her, my head on her shoulder, arm across her stomach, fingers tucked underneath her side. I marveled at the fact that she was the only woman I had ever laid like this with. I wasn’t much for being the cuddler. If someone wanted to lay on my shoulder or whatever, so be it. But, I never felt the need for the comfort and security such a position offered.
Until now.
We watched as Billy Crystal , finally realizing he is in love with Sally, runs toward the New Year’s party where she’s at.
"Oh, I love this part," Haley said, her arm around my shoulders tightened its grip, hugging me closer. Finally Harry and Sally admitted their love, and then they talked about their wedding, and the cake with the chocolate sauce on the side. "Aww, man that gets me." Haley said, bringing a hand up to her eye. I lifted myself onto an elbow, my body still against hers. I looked down at her.
"Are you crying?"
"No," she sniffled. I grinned.
"You are so adorable."
"I’m a big sap."
"Yes, but you’re still adorable." I looked down at her face, and she looked up at me, still swiping at her eye. I smiled, then my eyes traveled, taking in all of her. She laid on her back, one leg raised, her foot flat against the mattress. Her legs, long and strong, a bit of tan left over from last summer. The hand that wasn’t resting on my back was laying on her stomach where mine had been. My gaze traveled up further, her breathing even and steady, making her chest rise and fall, her breasts bulging against the material of the shirt, her neck, long and beautiful. I remember how soft that neck is.
Finally I looked into her eyes. She was studying me.
"I don’t understand why people use this phrase, but right now it seems appropriate. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you are so sensuous." A small smile turned up the corners of her mouth, adding to the sexiness.
She brought a hand up to the side of my head.
"I’ve been told that before," she said, her voice low, her eyes trailing all over my face, "but it never really mattered, or affected me." She looked into my eyes. "Are you affected?" I nodded. Her hand found the back of my head, pulling me down.
Balancing on my elbow, I brought my lips to hers, my eyes closing immediately as the kiss began. I tilted my head to the side, opening my lips to her, feeling her hand wandering around in my hair, the side of my neck. I brought just the tip of my tongue out, swiping at the inside of her top lip. She sucked in a breath, and pulled me even closer, rolling over onto her side so we lay body to body. My hand went to her back, pulling her even closer, the kiss turning to liquid fire as passion began to overtake it.
Haley moved her leg so it rested just barely between mine, my leg bending just a bit, to rise above hers.
Our breathing was loud, heavy, and out of control, much like the kiss itself. She pressed her tongue against mine, both wagering for dominance.
God, the fire spread through me faster than any wildfire, lighting me aflame as it went. To my surprise I felt Haley’s hips begin to move, just a bit, but definitely noticeable. Her breasts pressed to mine, stomach, hips, all of it. My own body began to move in response, aching for release, aching for what it had been craving all these years.
God, I just wanted to take her entirely inside me, and keep her there, but instinctively I knew she wasn’t ready for this. Not yet.
I stilled my body, well, did my best to, and slowed the kiss, bringing it down to a dull roar, rubbing soothing circles on her back, instead of my hand being planted firmly on her ass.
Breathing heavily, I pulled away all together, trying to get my heart rate under control.
Haley seemed to understand, as she closed her eyes, taking several deep breaths.
"Wow," she exhaled. I smiled. "Where did you learn to kiss like that?" She opened her eyes, looking at me. I shrugged.
"Years of practice, I guess."
"No one’s kiss has ever affected me the way yours does. My god. I’ve never felt anything like it."
"Ditto here."
"Really?" She smiled almost sheepishly.
"Definitely. You drive me wild, Haley."
"Good." She buried her head into my neck, my cheek resting against hers, my hand caressing the side of her face, fingers brushing back her hair. "What do you say we head to bed?" she said, her hand caressing my shoulder. "After all, we both do have work tomorrow."
"Okay." I said, patting her arm before I pulled away. She looked up at me, grinning.
"Just sleep."
"Who are you trying to convince, lady?" She grinned. I tried to stand, but my legs were literally shaking, feeling like I was trying to walk on sticks of rubber. "Whoa," I flopped back down on the mattress.
"Did I do that to you?" Haley asked, scooting up to sit behind me.
"I’m afraid so. What did you put in that kiss, anyway?" I leaned back against her, reveling in the feel of her.
"My heart," she whispered into my ear. I smiled, hugging her arms tighter around me.
Eventually we both were able to stand, and gathered up the mess, folding blankets, Haley letting the air out of the mattress. She looked at me.
"Did you have a nice Valentine’s Day, Andi?" I stopped folding the blanket I was working on, and looked at her.
"The best I’ve ever had," I said quietly.
"Really?" I nodded.
"Really." She grinned, ear to ear.
"Me, too."
* * *
Winter was coming to an end as March marched into town, bringing lots of rain with it, washing the snow away for the most part, though we still got the occasional storm or five.
It was one of those rare Saturdays when Haley hadn’t stayed over, or I hadn’t stayed over her place. We had decided to give each other some space last night, and on one hand it had been nice, but on both feet, it had sucked. We were getting nearer and nearer to the day when she would fly out of my life, and my state. I tried not to think about it, but knew it was inevitable, and coming quickly.
Just returning from my Saturday morning class, I had changed into a pair of shorts and a tank, and decided to clean the house. Last night had been Bunsen and me night. That poor dog was so confused. I was gone so often, returning from time to time to feed him and take him outside. I knew in his own doggy way he was upset with me. So, last night we had played every game known to man and mutt. We both had thoroughly enjoyed it.
Now, as I mopped the kitchen floor, I heard the doorbell. Leaning the mop against the counter, I hurried over to it, opening the door only to nearly be run over by a very agitated Haley. She was loaded with energy, barely able to keep still.
"Hi," she said, looking at me, kissing me on the lips, then walking right past me, only to start pacing in front of the coffee table. Bunsen watched her, sitting on his haunches, head cocked to the side.
"Um, are you okay?" I closed the front door, and walked over to her. "Come on, let’s sit."
"No, I need to pace. I’ve got entirely too much energy."
"Okay. I’ll sit." I sat on the couch, watching her. "What happened?"
"I did it," she said, looking at me. Confused, my brows drew.
"Did what?"
"I told them." I still didn’t get what she was talking about.
"Told who, what?"
"My parents!" she said, as if I should be able to re
ad her mind. Whatever was I thinking. Then it hit me. My eyes widened.
"Wait, did you tell them what I think you told them?"
"How am I supposed to know what you’re thinking? I can’t read your mind." I chuckled.
"Does it have anything to do with, well, this new you?" She smiled, nodded. She had a wild smile on her face, like she was loaded with fire.
"I called Holden a few days ago, and told him first."
"Wait, what exactly did you tell him?" I stood, walked around to the front of the coffee table, sitting on the edge of it to be closer to her.
"I told him about us, you and me. I was pretty afraid at first, thinking he’d have a reaction similar to Chris’, but Andi, he was totally cool with it, and he still wants me to go to their wedding in September!" She was so excited, her hands constantly moving, her speech fast and filled with energy. "So he told his fiancé, and she was cool with it, too, so then he talked me into telling my mom and dad, and I was worried about doing that, what with my father being sick and everything, but then I decided that I wanted him to know, so I drove over there this morning, and I just came back from there, and my mom made her world-famous waffles for us, but that doesn’t matter, so I told them."
She stopped, taking several deep breaths as her lungs had reached their capacity for words. She looked at me expectantly.
"Wow." I said, running a hand through my hair. "I’ll never be able to look your parents in the face again."
"You’re not upset with me, are you?"
"Oh, no! Honey, I was only kidding. What did they say?"
"Well, to be honest, my mom cried at first, not understanding me, saying how I always had nice men in my life. But my father, oh, he was wonderful." She smiled, sitting down next to me, the table creaking under our combined weight.
"Couch?"
"Couch." We moved over to it, and I held her hand as she continued. "I think he can understand, being into women himself, and also with his current condition, I think he’s really learned to find happiness wherever you can. I really do think my mom will be okay. I think she’s just a little shocked right now."