Knight Vision (7 page)

“Oh, I am now a puppy.  Let’s see, I do recall you referring to yourself as a cat.  That conjures up an interesting picture in my head,“ he laughed, stroking her leg.  “Let’s hear you purr.“  Annie was saved from retorting back to him by the appearance of Chloe with their dinner.

During the next hour while they ate, they turned their conversation to their families.  Annie wanted to apologize for her father again.  She wanted Jeff to understand.  He assured her he understood and would be on his guard around her father.

After he paid the bill, they surrendered their cozy table.  As they walked back into the main room of the club, the band was playing.  As Annie had predicted, the place was packed.  No open tables around the dance floor were available.

“This place is a zoo,“ Jeff remarked at the change in atmosphere.

“I told you,“ she replied, walking behind him through the crowd while holding his hand. 

“Let’s leave,“ he suggested.

“Okay.“

At the door of the club, Annie stopped.  Jeff tugged on their joined hands to urge her along.  Receiving restraint instead of compliance, he turned to face her.  Her face was bathed in the dome light of the door, and he saw pleasure on her face.  Tilting his head slightly, he wondered at her thoughts.  “What is it?“ he questioned.

“Our song,“ she whispered.

Caught unaware, Jeff listened for the music.  Hearing the song, he knew why she had stopped.  Stepping back to her, he guided her to the crowded dance floor.  Folding her in his arms, he sang softly along with the singer.  “I’m your knight is shining armor and I love you.“

As the song ended, she could feel from their close positions, his reaction to their dancing.  He immediately placed her in front of him and with his hands on her shoulders, he guided her to the door.  She got the hint; they were leaving the building this time.

As the cool night air hit them, she heard him let out his breath.  She was naïve, but not that much to know it was exactly what he needed as he gingerly walked her to the car.  At the passenger side door, he opened it for her and guided her into the seat. 

Once Jeff was into the driver seat, he moaned loudly.  “You okay?“ Annie asked shyly.

“No.  Give me a minute,“ he said as he started the car.  He backed the car out of the space and headed down the street in the direction of her house.  Annie registered the fact and her heart skipped a few beats.  At least she had a memorable dinner, she thought.

She felt Jeff’s hand return to her thigh as they waited for a street light; she looked at it.  Feeling bold, she placed her hand on his thigh, and was awarded with the sound of his sharp intake of breath.

When he passed her street, she began to think that there was hope for a better evening ahead.  “Jeff, where are we headed?“ she asked.

“My house,“ he replied, saying no more.

This was a interesting destination
, she thought.

***

Chapter Eight

When they arrived at his house, Annie was surprised to learn it was less than five miles from her own.  There was such a small distance between their home in this huge city.  As they pulled into the driveway, she wondered why they were there.  Jeff got out of the car, still not saying a word.  He went around the car and opened her door.  She looked into his smiling face, as he extended his hand to her.  Taking his hand, she got out of the car.

Leading her over to the side entryway, he unlocked the door and swung it open and directed her into the room.  She found herself in a room which had once been the house’s carport.  It was now converted into a den, but remained separate from the main house.  She noticed that the only way into the main house from this room addition was the old entry door off the carport.

He followed her into the room and closed the door.  She turned back and looked at him.  He smiled.  “I’ll be right back,“ he said and entered the main house.  She stood there as if rooted to the ground. 
Annie
, she thought, to herself. 
You are in trouble
.

She heard Jeff’s voice in the house, but couldn’t make out the words.  She looked around the room.  In the middle of the room was a billiard table.  That was not unusual for a den, but on top of the table was a mattress which made the table a bed.  She was standing in his bedroom!  Her heart started pounding.  She continued to scan the room.  There was a desk and shelves which ran the entire distance of the room on the west wall.  These shelves held books, photos and a small television.  The east side had two open doors which entered into the room.  Even from her vantage point, she could tell that one was the laundry room and the other was a storeroom.  Behind her, there was a chair and a recliner.  It was neat and clean; there was no clutter.

As she heard a door open, she turned and saw him reappear, carrying two cans of soda.  As he approached her, his expression was rather wolfish.  She suddenly felt she was the rabbit about to be sacrificed.  Somehow, she was excited by the thought and not at all afraid.

“Annie, let me remove your jacket,“ he purred softly, placing the cans on the edge of the pool table.  He moved behind her, lifted her purse off her shoulder, reached around her and started unzipping her jacket.  With every click of the zipper, her apprehension grew.  Part of her wanted to run; yet, part of her wanted more.  When the front of the jacket flapped open, he spun her around to face him.  Wrapping his arms around her under the jacket, he ran his hands up her back to her shoulders.  He hugged and kissed her deeply.

She started to place her arms around him in response to his actions, but he motioned for her to stay still.
 Yeah, like she could stand still while he relished her mouth
, she thought.  However, she managed to keep her hands at her side. 

He moved his lips to explore her neck as his hands massaged her back under her jacket.  She closed her eyes and allowed her feelings to take over.  As he explored, her fears and apprehension vanished. 

When he released her suddenly, she opened her eyes.  Catching the inviting smile on his face, she tilted her head.  He chuckled softly, showing her that he held her jacket in his hands.  She frowned at the sight, not realizing he had removed it.  Placing her purse and jacket on the chair, he removed his jacket and placed it over her things.   The sight of him covering her things with his jacket made her wonder at the significance of the action.  Was he trying to tell her something by his action?

On his way back to her, he grabbed the cans of soda.  Reaching her, he handed her one of the cans.  She took the offered soda without a word.  He reached for her free hand and walked her over to the desk on the west wall.  

Her thoughts returned to the slaughtered rabbit.  He was prepping her now. 
Five miles is not that far to walk
. 
Yeah, right
. 
She was his and he knew it
, she thought as a smile crossed her face.  He looked at her and saw the smile.  “What are you smiling about?“ he asked.

“Everything,“ she replied softly. 

“You are indeed cute. “ He laughed and pulled her to him.  She wrapped her arms around him and they kissed. 

Releasing her, he moved and turned on the lamp on the desk. Confused, she looked at him.  He pointed to the row of journals on the desk.  “These hold my poetry.  You asked to see them.  Pick one,” he directed.

As Annie scanned the row of journals, she laughed softly. It appeared that he captured his thoughts in the same-style notebooks that she used to capture hers.  Placing the unopened soda on the desk, she ran her finger down the row of notebooks.  “Where do I begin?” she whispered.

Jeff remained silent; he knew the question was not meant for him. His heartbeat increased as he saw her settle on the open notebook positioned under the light. “That is not finished,” he whispered.  “I just started it today.”

Annie could only nod in response as she eyed the title, ’
Since I Touched Shoulders With You
’
.
It was not the title that silenced her words; it was the two words printed below it.  ’
For Annie
.’  With tears forming in her eyes, she read the few lines jotted on the paper.

You will believe what I say is true,

You appeared before me out of the blue.

Who am I not to reach and hold,

This beauty before me, who shimmered in gold.

I read the sign, I read the clue,

It happened since I touched shoulders with you.

“Oh, Words Man,” she muttered, looking into his eyes.  She placed the book back on the desk.

He pulled her back into his embrace.  “Annie,“ he whispered into her hair.  “I want you.“

“Me, too,“ she whispered, eyeing the bed on the pool table.  “No way.“

He agreed, laughingly. 

***

Chapter Nine

With the words of the poem still echoing in her head, Annie watched him move to the wall switch and turn off the overhead light, leaving only the desk light on.  On his way back, he removed the comforter off the bed and spread it at her feet on the tile floor.  She nodded her agreement, feeling too shy to talk.

Jeff knelt on the spread and reached up for her.  She grabbed his extended hands and knelt in front of him.  Her shyness melted away as she gazed into his ’bedroom eyes.’  He gathered her into his embrace and their lips met.  Closing her eyes, she eagerly returned the embrace and fire of his kiss.  She felt his right hand move from her back.  He backed out of the embrace a little, but his lips never left hers.  Reaching under the front of her blouse, he unhooked her bra in one movement.  Amazement shot through her as she wondered how he knew she was wearing a front-snapped bra, until she remembered his exploration of her back under her jacket just moments before. 
Smart boy
, she thought.  No, that was wrong.  Smart man, for this was not a boy.

His hand moved to cup her left breast.  She heard herself gasp at the touch of his hand against her bare skin.  “Be gentle,“ she mumbled against his lips. 

“Oh, I will,“ he responded.  He deepened the kiss and continued to fondle her until he achieved the desired result of her throaty moan.  He knew her body was taking over her actions.  He released her and she cried out quietly, arching her body to him.  He gently pushed her back while releasing their kiss.

“Jeff?“ she asked through swollen lips, opening her eyes.

He softly placed his index finger on her full lips to halt her from saying anything.  He looked deeply into her eyes and she saw the want in his eyes.  She felt him start to unbutton her blouse; his eyes never left her face.  Reaching out, she moved the hair from his forehead.  As she ran her fingers through his hair, he leaned his head into her hand. 
What a loving gesture
, she thought.

When all the buttons were undone, he removed her hand from his hair.  He hooked his thumbs on the edge of the blouse and dropped if off her shoulders, followed closely by her bra.  She witnessed him looking down upon her exposed front and her heart froze.  Her body language must have given off her alarm, because he looked up into her eyes and smiled. 
God, I love this man
, she thought.

They came together in a bear hug.  Their closeness made her aware of his desire, trapped within his jeans.  She instinctively moved her hips against him.  Closing her eyes, she heard him groan as he held her.  His lips found hers again and he slowly lowered her down on her side.  Their lips never broke contact during this brief journey.   Releasing her, he rolled her onto her back.  She opened her eyes and looked into his ’heavy with desire’ eyes.  He smiled and whispered, “Annie.“

Unable to speak, she reached out and brushed his hair from his face.  She traced his swollen lips with her thumb; he turned his face into her palm and kissed it.  A chill ran through her.   Moving her hand to the back of his neck, she pulled him down to her and kissed him.

As they kissed, he recaptured her breast in his hand and continued to massage it.  His hand moved between each breast, leaving her begging for more.  She moaned against his lips and pressed closer.  Releasing her lips, he proceeded to kiss all over her face, and then moved to her neck.  Holding her breath, she knew where he was headed.  As his mouth found its target, she erupted with waves of pleasure. 

She entwined her fingers in his hair, and heard herself groan softly, calling his name.  “Jeff.“  She found it hard to believe this was really happening to her.  Was she really experiencing this, or was it just a dream? Her few encounters prior this night had never made her feel this way.  She now knew the romance novels she loved were based on fact, not fiction. 

Feeling his hand travel down to her stomach, she quickly released his hair and grabbed his hand. 
I am not ready to do this
, she thought.  All her inner insecurities rushed back at once.  All the years of hurt from bad relationships, of pain from growing up as a fat child in a thin culture descended on her.  She became rigid with fear and self-loathing.  As this fear moved through her body, she closed her eyes.