Stay

Ch. 6 

Taylor:

A couple men came over to us. They held Joe back, and the two men. Joe was not fighting them. In fact, he was looking at me. His eyes full of concern. The men calmed down, and pulled them away from us. 

I wiped my lips again. I could still smell the alcohol from the kiss. The men that came over, dragged  the drunk men out the doors. As soon as the other man let go of Joe, he rushed to me.

“Are you okay? Oh my God, I am so sorry he did that to you.” Joe said. I could not help but notice he was keeping his distance from me. 

“Yeah, I think so.” I said quietly. 

He rubbed my arm consolingly. We went to sit down at our table. I was not quite sure what to say. That guy just kissed me, in front of Joe. He was drunk anyone could tell that. I rubbed my fingers over my lips. They felt exposed. 

 I started to imagine, what would have happened if those guys had not been there. Joe would have gotten hurt; they were bigger than Joe was. A tear fell from my eyes, as my brain started to comprehend everything. 

“Oh, Taylor.” Joe said consolingly.

“I’m sorry…” I said as more tears came.

“No don’t be sorry. Some rude, drunk guy just forced himself on you.” Joe still distanced himself from me. What was he doing? He was not the one that was drunk, and forced a kiss on me. He pushed his chair back a little from me. I felt abandoned.

His eyes showed that I my assumptions were wrong. They were not angry or appalled. They were sympathetic. I scooted my chair to his, and he did not back away. He just continued to look at me.

“Why won’t you hold me?” I asked quietly. I was could feel myself blush. I was embarrassed to ask, but right now all I wanted was his arms around me.

“I thought you would want space. Space away from men…” He replied. I slide my hand to his. He  movied it back, still being careful not to get to close to me.

“I want to be away from men like him…not you.” I said with an ache hanging in my chest. An ache that could only be taken away from him.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded, and he took me into his arms. I felt safe leaning against his chest, and being held tight. We sat there as two songs went by. Watching the couples dance on the floor. It was like time was slowly erasing the event.

It looked like they kicked the men out, because I did not see them again. That made me relax more. The DJ announced this would be the last dance of the night. People rushed to the dance floor.

Joe looked at me, and asked. “Do you want to dance?”

I wanted to. This night took a bad turn, but we can end it on a good note. “Yes I do!”

The music started, and Joe led me to the dance floor. We did not talk as we danced. He spun me around, and we danced along to the slow song. I could not help but smile. He pulled me close, and kissed my forehead. He was an excellent dancer. I pushed myself to him. We were dancing closer, and my heart would not calm down. Joe took my hand, and set it on his heart. It was beating fast.

“Does your heart race, like mine?” Joe asked.

I took his hand, and put it about my heart. He smiled, because my heart was racing too.

‘All those nights I stayed awake, thinking of all the ways to make you mine.’

He was staring into my eyes, and playing with my hair. Why do these simple things cause my heart to race, and butterflies appear in my stomach? I wanted him to kiss me. I had an aching to feel his warm lips against mine. I wanted him to claim back what is his. Kiss my lips, and wipe away the kiss from the drunken man. 

Joe backed away slightly, looking at me with hesitation in my eyes. I realized he did not want to hurt me. That man forcefully kissed me not to long ago.

“Joe, I am okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

The song ended, and the moment felt like it slipped away.

“Taylor, I…” he shook his head dismissing what ever he was going to say. Then kissed me.

My heart raced at the touch of his warm lips against mine. His touch sent sparks through me. We were pressed against each other, engulfed in the kiss. I ran my fingers through his hair, clutching his head to mine. He ran his hands slowly over my sides. I felt him smile as he kissed me.

Then Joe’s pocket began to buzz, but he did not break the kiss. I did.