Chapter Seventeen
Terrance
Sunday
“How do I look?” I asked, spinning around like the girls in the movies, while tugging out my suit jacket to give Braxton the full look. “Dashing, right?”
“You look good, boss; are you nervous at all? This is the first date you’ve been on in years after, all.” He was trying to wind me up, but actually, what he’d touched on was a real nerve.
“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been on a date, not like this. I mean, I’ve spontaneously taken women to dinner before, but this feels different.”
I couldn’t keep the beaming smile off my face as I spoke. I felt like a brand new man, one that had love filling my heart. “This feels...more.” I couldn’t really explain it, but everything about spending time with Morgan was more. She made my world a brighter place.
“Are you in love?” He pinched my side and chuckled. “You look like a man in the first wonderful flush of love.”
“Oh yeah, and you’re the expert, are you?” I rolled my eyes and laughed. “Just one night of fun and now you know everything!”
“Yeah, yeah, now look, boss. I know this might be a little awkward, but do you want me to come with you tonight? For protection, in case anything happens. I won’t, like, sit at your table or anything, but I can be in the same place.”
I considered that for a second, before realizing how utterly ridiculous it was. I needed to go out alone at some point, and I really didn’t think those assholes would act while I was with a lady.
“No, I think I’ll be okay. What I’ll do is take Morgan out for dinner somewhere nearby, then I can call you if I need you. Do you have any plans tonight?”
“Nope, I’ll just sit here with my cell phone on. That way, I can be right there if you need me to be. If you’re sure that’s okay?” Braxton eyed me curiously, giving me that look once more. He knew that I was still refusing to tell him everything, but there wasn’t anything that could change my mind.
“I’m sure; that’ll be awesome. We’ll go to the Asian fusion place on the corner, so it’s not far for you. I haven’t seen any glimmer of trouble for a couple of days now, so I’m pretty sure it’ll be okay, but I still appreciate having you on standby.”
Braxton nodded slowly and thoughtfully. “You know, this Morgan girl is very beautiful. I’m glad she’s caught your eye. You actually seem a lot happier with her in your life.”
I didn’t answer him, mostly because I really didn’t want to get back onto the topic that made me miserable. Braxton knew, just as I did, that Morgan had to be pretty special to take me away from everything I stuck to before about permanently being alone. We didn’t need to discuss it further.
“Well, I better get going.” I smiled thinly as the nerves began to work their way through my body. “I have to pick Morgan up at eight. I’ll see you later, okay, Braxton?”
“Yep, have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I rolled my eyes and clicked the door behind me, trying to shake off the anxiety. I needed to be cool and confident if I was going to keep Morgan interested in me. As far as I was concerned, no woman had ever liked a guy who showed off his shyness. I looked good – now I just needed to feel the part, and everything would be fine.
***
As I extended my fist to knock on the door to the address that Morgan had given me, I felt much better. All the car ride over, I’d geared myself up, got rid of any self doubt, and now I was ready. More than ready, I felt excited.
Even more so when the door swung open and I witnessed the absolute beauty before me. Morgan was dressed in a more causal outfit than the last couple of times I’d seen her, with a short denim skirt and a lace backed black top. Her hair hung naturally down, and she barely had any make up. She possibly looked the most stunning that I’d ever seen her.
“Well, hello there, Morgan,” I smiled and extended my hand out to her. “Are you ready for our night of fun?”
“Erm, I think so,” she giggled and blushed adorably. “I hope I’m dressed okay, I don’t know if I’ve made the right amount of effort here.”
“You look beautiful.” As I interrupted her, I felt the incredible urge to lean in and kiss her, but I forced myself to resist for the moment. That could all come later on, if the time was right. “Come on, I have my car parked out front, and as a treat, I’m going to drive you this time.”
“Oh wow, I am being spoiled.”
We shared a similar vein of banter all the way to the restaurant, which I really enjoyed. It wasn’t like we were constantly trying to impress one another, totally the opposite, actually. It was nice. Usually I felt like I had to really consider every word I said to a woman, each sentence needed to be carefully crafted so I didn’t give off the wrong impression, but with Morgan, I could just fire off a comment instinctively and it’d make her laugh.
“Oh, this isn’t far from your home, is it?” she asked as I finally pulled up. “This all looks a bit familiar.”
“Yeah, I’m just over there.” I was pleased, rather than irritated that she could recall where I lived. It meant she cared enough to keep it in mind. “Right at the top.”
“I can remember it clearly now.” There was a misty look in her eyes, and I really wanted to know what was going on behind her gaze. How could I not be intrigued by this wonderful woman? “Come on, let’s go inside. I’m starving.”
I liked to watch Morgan eat because she was so carefree about it all. She wasn’t nibbling, darting her eyes about the place like it was a crime to be seen enjoying what she ate. It was refreshing. She was so different, which caused me to ask the one question I usually avoided like the plague.
“So, tell me more about yourself. It must be fascinating working in the hospital.”
“Oh, you know, it can be. Sometimes it’s really hard, though. It’s nice to know that I’m helping people. I think that’s why I got into it, to know that I’m making a difference, however small, in someone’s life.”
“Well, I know you certainly made a difference to me on that night,” I told her honestly. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
“I only patched you up a bit, anyone could’ve done that.” She was so coy, so modest, and it made me like her even more. “Have you ever found anything more out about what happened that night? Did you ever discover who did it to you? I presume you didn’t go to the police?”
“No, I didn’t. I don’t know who it was, but it seems pointless to worry now. I’ve had no trouble since.” My words came out so fast they almost tumbled over one another. I hated spinning this lie over and over again, but what could I do? “I don’t worry about things like that once they’re done.”
“Right, okay.” Morgan gave me a look that reminded me a bit of Braxton’s. She wasn’t going to easily be fooled, either, but that was because she had a good head on her shoulders. “So why don’t you tell me more about you?” She quickly changed the subject, as if she sensed that I needed that.
***
I couldn’t take Morgan back to her home once the night was over because I really didn’t want to. I was disappointed when dinner was done, and when there were no more excuses to stay in the restaurant because I was having such a good time. For the first real date in my life, it was certainly a success.
“Would you like to come back to my place for another drink?” I asked with a smile. My heart raced in my chest, fearing she might say no, but she filled me with relief by nodding. “Okay, come on.”
I threw my arm over her shoulder and led her inside. As we stepped into the elevator, I was transported back to the first time we were in this situation, when she was taking me inside because I was beaten up. Everything about that moment was hazy, but I could recall some chemistry circling us. Even then our bodies knew that something was going to happen between us.
“I-”
“You-”
We both started speaking at once before laughing awkwardly. It was almost as if we both had something serious to say to one another, but neither of us knew exactly where to start.
“You go first,” I offered helpfully, but she furiously shook her head at my suggestion.
“No, please, you go.”
“I was just going to say thank you for a lovely evening,” I finished lamely. “It was awesome.”
“Yeah, it really was.”
At that moment the doors opened, and I took us inside my apartment. I couldn’t look at Morgan for a moment because I could feel something there. There was something heavy going on, and I wasn’t sure what it was. I didn’t think I wanted to know, either. Not quite yet. Instead of launching into deep and meaningful conversation, I decided to spin things over on their head, instead.
“You know.” I spun around and gave her my best seductive look. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot since that night at Lights Out. That truly was incredible.” I stepped closer to her and lightly trailed my finger over her hip. “Your lips made my blood boil, your skin felt wonderful to touch.”
She shivered, which was exactly what I wanted. I’d gotten under her skin. “Your body made me sweat. There was a spark there,” I murmured as I got closer to her mouth. “Do you want to see if it still exists?”
I didn’t wait for Morgan to answer. I could feel her body swelling and pulsating under the power of my words, so I pulled her in for a deep and passionate kiss. I claimed her hungrily, like a man starved of any attention for far too long, which in a way I was. I had been rejecting anyone and everyone while I waited to find Morgan again, and now that moment had finally come.
“Come on.” I linked my fingers through hers and tugged her towards my bedroom. “Let’s go and get into bed now, shall we?” I sent her what I hoped was an irresistible wink and thankfully, she practically collapsed against me. It seemed she had been waiting for this just much as I had.
I liked the idea of Morgan at her home, thinking of me, dreaming about me, wishing she could be back by my side again. It made my heart swell with warmth. It made the moment even hotter than it already was.
My body reacted to her in a new and exciting way. I wanted to explore that in every possible way. I felt like I needed to know absolutely everything about her.
At least this wouldn’t be a quickie in a club. I could take my time. I could learn every inch of her body. I could really make her mine. I glanced behind me to see her hazy lust filled face and I smirked to myself. I was the luckiest man alive!