CHAPTER NINETEEN
I wake up to the sound of a ‘ping’ from my phone; a text message. As the sleepy fog slowly leaves me, and I try to lean over to get my phone, I see a beautiful man lying next to me in my bed. How could I have forgotten?
His breathing is soft, slow. I find the rise and fall of his chest, is soothing to me. His face, relaxed, flawless. I could just lay here, and stare at him all day. At this exact moment I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Do I deserve to have a man this exquisite beside me? I must, because he’s here.
Trying not to wake him, I stretch to get the phone before it beeps again. Sure enough, it's Tara. 'So how was last night? Is he as gorgeous naked, as I think he is?'
I text her back, using only one hand. 'I'm looking at him right now, and yes, he's perfect!' and hit the send button. I try not to giggle when I picture how the expression on her face must look. I bet her mouth is hanging open right now.
I slip out of bed as carefully as I can, and head for the bathroom. I have to try and look presentable. He can't see me with a glistening oily face, hair all knotted up, terrible breath and residual mascara smeared down, covering my still slightly purple bags, and blood red eyes. And I have to pee. My eyes look much better today, than they did even last night.
Quietly, I open the bathroom door and tiptoe my way back to the bed. I lift the covers and slide in next to him. I want to wake him up nicely. I tickle my fingers down his chest, ever so lightly, just barely touching him. The tiny hairs lift with my touch leaving goose bumps trailing my fingers.
“Good morning.” Laden speaks in his non-whispering voice and makes me jump and screech. He starts laughing. “I've been awake for a while. I watched your sexy ass while you tiptoed your way to the bathroom.”
“Why didn't you say anything?” Seeing me naked last night in the candlelight, mixed with all the passion is one thing, but in the morning when there is light peeking out from behind the drapes?! My face must look like a tomato, because I sure can feel the heat.
“Baby, please don't be embarrassed. Your body is beautiful, perfect in every way because it's yours. I love looking at you. If you have a flaw anywhere on you that I wouldn’t like, I haven’t found it. Even if your body was covered in old scars it wouldn’t matter to me. I see you, not your body.” His eyes stare deep into mine, making me gasp.
Laden shifts himself, so that he’s propped up on one elbow. He slides the covers down, exposing my body to the slivers of sunlight. I'm a little embarrassed, and feeling quite exposed. In my mind, I keep telling myself to relax, that it’s ok, because it's Laden looking, nobody else.
“Absolute perfection.” Laden runs his warm hand up and down my body several times, then hops out of bed quickly. “Give me a minute.” He struts his perfectly sculpted body to the bathroom.
My eyes are locked on him, mesmerized by his every movement. He is so flawless, like he was sculpted from clay by a very gifted artist. He is utterly captivating, so perfect. I don’t think that even after a hundred years, I’ll ever really understand what he sees in me.
I pull the covers back up over myself, and roll onto my side, and start to giggle. That amazing man made love to me last night, for the first time… my first time. That sexy, gorgeous, fabulous man made love to me!
To top off a perfect evening, I had a dreamless night. I just realized that I didn't dream about anything; I slept soundly. I don’t have good nights like that very often anymore, so I appreciate it, when I do. Perhaps it was due to Laden being here. Maybe we can do a little experiment and have him stay over again, just to see if it works.
The details of last night fill my mind, and I lose myself in the memory of how gentle he was. He made me feel so at ease. I wasn't self-conscious at all last night, not once. I felt only love; his love, pure and real. We joined into one; our movements, our breath, our touches... exceptional, beautiful.
Butterflies flap in my belly when he slides into bed behind me, cradling my body against his. “Do you have any regrets about last night?”
“No, not at all. Actually the whole experience was better than I had imagined it would be... because it was with you.” I feel a tear roll slowly down me cheek. “You were so sensitive and caring. You made it an amazing night to remember. No regrets, not one.” I want him to know how perfect it was for me. I can’t find the exact words to fully make him understand.
“I'm falling in love with you.” Laden whispers in my ear, and starts kissing my neck.
I whisper, “I think I'm falling in love with you too.” He's falling in love with me! Butterflies!
To break up what was just about to be the most fabulous morning I've ever had, there was a tap, tap on my door. The wake-up reminder knock that the staff give us on school days.
Laden flies off of me, and sprints in two steps to the bathroom, out of anyone's direct line of vision from the door. His eyes are huge, and he's breathing fast, shallow breaths, but quietly, very quietly.
I bust out laughing, because the look on his face is priceless. He thought someone was coming in, and that he needed to hide. Quickly!
“It's not funny. If anyone saw me here, with you, I would lose my job, my career. I can't be seen sleeping with a patient!” Laden is genuinely scared.
My laughter continues. "I've never seen you move so fast. You almost flew. Are you sure you don't have an ability to fly? I'm sorry, but it was so funny."
We have a quick shower together, get dressed, and then he slips out of my room, hopefully unnoticed. I grab my backpack, and head over to Tara's room, so that we can walk together down to breakfast. I'm sure she must have some questions for me.
Just before my knuckles meet her door, it flies open, and she grabs my arm, and yanks me inside, and lets the door shut behind me.
“OhmyGod! So tell me all about it. Is the rest of him just as perfect as his face?” Tara is talking so fast. “Tell me, tell me, tell me!”
“Yeah! He's... exquisite. It was an experience that I will look back on very fondly.” I left out the part about us telling each other that we're falling in love; that's just between him and me.
“Tell me more. Was he romantic, or wild? Tell me, tell me!” Tara is actually bouncing up and down, with eyes huge, and a smile from ear to ear.
“Romantic, so very romantic. Candles, a gentle touch. The whole night was so... paradisiacal. That's the best way to describe last night.” I pick up Tara's backpack and hand it to her. “We're going to be late for breakfast. Let's go.”
She looks at me questioningly. “Ok, so what does paradisca… paradisle... whatever, mean?”
I start to walk out the door with her following closely behind me. “Paradisiacal. It means, ‘of or like paradise’. Basically, the entire experience couldn’t have been better, if I dreamed it up.”
She doesn't push for much more information, but she does ask, “So are we going to tell the crew that you and Laden...” She drops her sentence because Todd comes around the corner.
Quickly and under my breath, I say, “No we're not saying anything.” I give her a very stern look so she nods in agreement.
“G'morning. Am I missing a good conversation? If so, fill me in.” Todd seems extra happy this morning. I wonder why.
“No Todd, Laura and I were just talking girl talk. You wouldn't be interested.” Tara shoots me a look to say 'There are you happy, I didn't say anything'.
We eat breakfast before we head off to our classes. Sherri has an early appointment with Dr. Jennifer, so she isn't here this morning. I am so thankful that she isn't going to read me right now. I'm not ready for the looks that she'll give me or what she might say.
Tara keeps pressing for more information, all through English. I simply refuse to tell her any of the details of last night. I want to keep the magic just between Laden and me. It feels like, if I tell her everything, it will lessen the experience somehow.
After English, Tara and I separate, while she heads off to her sche
duled visit with Dr. Jennifer, and I head off to Concentration Class.
Butterflies flutter in my belly. Am I going to be able to suppress my excitement from last night away from Todd? I really don't want him to pick up on it. I don’t think I can bear to see the pain he’ll show in his eyes.
Todd and I are lying side by side on our own mats, and trying to concentrate on the new relaxation technique that Maria has just explained to us.
Todd turns his head towards me and whispers, “I'm glad that your first experience was pleasurable for you.”
I spin my head around, and look like a deer caught in a headlight. How the hell does he know?
“I just wish it would've been me. But since it wasn’t, I'm glad he didn’t hurt you. At least he made it nice for you.” Todd whispers.
His expression says 'brokenhearted' but it says 'friendship and love' as well. He's keeping his emotions from travelling over to me, so I can't really tell what he's feeling. Of all the times for him to not share his abilities with me, I wish this wasn't one of them.
I take his hand, intertwining our fingers and give him a friendly ‘thank you’ smile. We hold hands through the rest of the class, and all I feel coming from him is a relaxed calm. I do all I can to hide how elated I truly am about Laden. It wouldn't be right to show that emotion to Todd. I'd feel like I was rubbing it in.
After class, I walk around looking for Laden. Usually he's walking the halls, busy doing something. But today, he's nowhere to be seen. I give up looking, and head to the mess hall for lunch.
I'm the first to the table. Slowly, they start to trickle in; Tara first, then Reilly and Todd. Then Jessy shows up a few minutes later.
Reilly says to me, "Laura, your eyes are looking better. They're not quite as red, and the puffiness has calmed down. You’re looking good. You have a nice glow today."
I respond, "Thank you. I slept well last night; no dreams." I smile a quick smile, and turn my head so he doesn't see the pink flush, that I know is all over my cheeks.
When Sherri comes to the table, she puts down her tray, sits, and puts her hand on my arm. Immediately her face goes blank. At first I have no idea why she's touching my arm, then it hits me... she's reading me in depth. She'll know everything that happened last night, as if she were there in my body.
By the time I yank my arm away, it's too late. She's grinning from ear to ear. She knows everything. I give her my best 'please-do-not-say-anything-about-it' look, but she's not looking at me.
“Oh, that was fantastic. Wow! Damn! Skills! That man has him some skills! Mm mm mmm. Is it getting hot in here?” Sherri starts fanning herself. Her face is flushed, and her forehead is starting to glisten. She has a look like she's in heaven, kind of what I must have looked like last night. “I knew something was up with you. You radiate satisfaction. I can feel it in every fiber of my being.”
Tara laughs her best 'OhmyGod-so-it's-true he is awesome’ laugh. I can't help but smile through my embarrassment. My face feels like a red hot pepper. So now the cats out of the bag, or at least it will be when Sherri spills it, which should be at any second.
Reilly and Jessy are just looking at us, wondering what it is that they're missing. They’re probably waiting for one of us to fill them in on the big funny. Sherri is fanning herself, enjoying the afterglow, and Tara is still laughing at Sherri’s reaction.
Todd on the other hand, just looks miserable. To him, knowing that Laden and I had a great night is one thing, but for everyone to know that I am officially Laden's girl, body and soul, is too much. His eyes well up with tears. He clears his throat, fighting back the lump, and says to Reilly and Jessy, “Laden spent last night with Laura.” The way he says it sounds kind of matter-of-factly, like, ‘pass the salt’. I think he’ll break if he allows himself to feel any more emotion. He’s trying to shut it off, but he’s failing miserably.
Reilly and Jessy both look at Todd. Jessy say, “Oh, sorry Todd.” Then he looks at me and whispers. “Congratulations Laura.” With a giant smile splashed all over his face.
Reilly pats Todd on the back. “Sorry man.”, then goes right back to eating.
Todd is really quiet for the rest of the lunch hour, but so am I. Saying anything about last night will just hurt Todd more.
Thankfully, Sherri held off on giving Tara the rundown, but she did not stop looking at me, and grinning huge, while she read me even more, over and over again. Even though I want to stand up on the table and tell everyone how wonderful Laden is, I don't dare!
Back in my room, sitting at my computer, e-mailing my mom and dad, I keep looking at the bed, and smiling. It almost seems like a dream, like it never really happened. It was too perfect to be real. If I wasn't physically tender, I might just believe that it didn't happen.
I close my computer, and flip on my TV. After flipping through every channel, and not finding anything that interests me, I shut it off. My mind wanders back to last night.
‘Knock, knock’ on my door, then it opens slowly. “Laura, you in here?” It's Laden. My guy, my love, the man I melted into last night. My belly flutters, and a smile blooms on my face.
“Yeah, I'm here.” I walk over to him as he's strutting to me. We meet, and instantly we're in a passionate embrace; kissing and holding each other tightly. My arms are around his neck, and my hand is combed into his hair, holding his head down to me so I can kiss his soft lips. His arms are around me, holding me to him. His lips leave mine only for a moment, to kiss my neck. I gasp to catch my breath. I’m almost losing myself completely, again.
Laden pushes me back at arm’s length away from him, but he’s still hanging on to me. “Ok, ok, I'm still working. Oh, yummy girl!” He pulls me back to him, and kisses me passionately again, then pushes me away again, this time letting me go and stepping back. “I want to stay, but I can't. I was just passing by, and I thought I'd stop in, kiss you, and tell you that I'm being moved to the ‘Restricted’ area for a little while. So, I'll snoop as much as I can. But, deliciously hot girl, I can come back later, around 9:30… if you'd like.”
“Yes, please do! I'll be waiting for you, in my bed, naked at 9:30 tonight. You won't keep me waiting, will you?” I slide my hands up his shirt, and run my fingernails gently down his chest and belly. He loves it, and responds accordingly. I'm teasing him, and I like the affect it's having on him.
“Since you put it like that, how can I resist? I will not be late, promise.” Laden kisses my lips softly one more time, then flees back out my door.
I fall back onto my bed, grinning ear to ear. I bury my face in the pillow that he laid his head on when he slept last night, and breathe him in.
Colours In Blackness - A New Life Page 19