The next morning, I frayed out of a dreamless sleep. Squinting at a clock at a far end of my room, I barely made out the arrows - I think it was a little past ten. Yawning and rubbing my blurry eyes, I dragged myself out of bed, threw a robe around the shoulders and presuming Ian came back in the early hours of the morning and is peacefully regaining his energy in his sleep, I went downstairs to the kitchen. The house was quiet and a bleak sunshine came in long rays through closed curtains in the living room. I heard a noise in the kitchen and not thinking anything, ran expecting my roommate up so early.
"Oh hey, Callum."
A tall lithe figure turned around and rewarded me with the widest, warmest smile anyone could deserve right before their first cup of morning coffee.
"Morning, sunshine!" Callum greeted cheerfully.
Wearing a white vest jersey and dark pajama pants, he looked gorgeous; however, too skinny and pale. Both Ian and Callum didn't bulge up in the gym, nor did they eat anything that resembled a living stock - including eggs for breakfast or tuna sandwiches for lunch. Although Ian wasn't a hardcore vegan, Callum was. Their lifestyle wasn't my cup of tea - I loved meat more than anything, but if it's something that makes them happy, so be it. I couldn't judge anyone above my own reasoning.
Bringing his long arms around my shoulders, Callum pressed a warm hug.
"How have you been, beautiful?"
Squeezing him back, I realized it's been quite some time since Ian brought him back home. And although they've been dating for over a year, both of them respected their own privacy.
"I've been good, thanks." I sneered and with a thought of yesterday's rendezvous in bed, my cheeks tinted in a warm glow. "What time did you get back last night?"
"You mean this morning?" He chuckled and went back to the frying pan.
Stirring something that resembled a mountain of green and red leaves, he wiggled his bum to his own humming, "some time past four. Ian couldn't stop dancing. I bet he won't be able to walk today."
A quiet giggle escaped my lips as I stood waiting for a kettle to boil for my first caffeine kick of the day. "You're up early." I noticed.
"I'm not much of a sleeper. I'll have a nap in the day if I'm lucky. We're still young, right? We'll sleep when we're dead or in a retirement home."
"Right..." I exhaled and looked up at his freckled face standing next to me.
Callum was a year younger than Ian and me, making him twenty-three. He worked in a local grocery superstore and was an ordinary, everyday kind of bloke. With short spiky auburn hair and light brown eyes, he shared a fare amount of Scottish DNA with his family. With his quirky attitude and a wide ear-to-ear smile, he made it impossible for anyone not to love him.
"Ian wants to go to L.A. today. An audition to a shampoo ad is being held at one in the afternoon, so we better hurry." He stirred the pan once again and turned off the hob.
As soon as the kettle boiled, I brewed myself a strong mug of espresso and left it to cool off.
"Ian in a shampoo commercial?" I snorted grinning, "He needs to grow some hair first."
Callum and Ian both sported a spiky, short crop so I honestly couldn't imagine Ian being in an ad of such sort.
Shrugging his pointy bare shoulders, Callum laid some of the green paste-like leaves onto a round plate, poured freshly pressed orange juice in a tall glass and went up to wake Ian. I sighed dreamily - I never had anyone bring breakfast to bed. But that would involve a man, who would probably expect something more as a price for meals in bed and with that, I shook my head to wipe the image out of my mind and went to sit in the front porch. Wrapping a hot mug in my fingers, I made myself comfortable on a swinging bench and watched a tranquil street come to live with two passing cars and a dog walker walking by.
"Good morning!" An old lady waved with her furry pooch parading proudly next to her on a leash.
"Morning!" I waved back and smiled to myself. The neighborhood was friendly and quiet. There was no known crime in the area. I've never felt this safe living back in Chicago. Our house has been robbed twice over the years and even now, my parents are keeping all their doors under five locks just in case.
I gazed at the two cars parked in our driveway - Ian's Chevrolet Camaro in bright yellow and my timid white VW Polo GTI. Thinking I'd need to drive my baby to a carwash, my eyes trailed onto a shiny black convertible parked in a driveway across the street. The view out the window from last night popped back into my head and I felt my thighs spasm, with a warm slithering gush filling my core. Heavy curtains were all rolled shut now on the contrary to last night. Why would they keep their private encounter out for everyone to see? I'll never understand it and doubt I'll ever want to. Ok, it did make me hot and bothered, but it won't happen again. I can control my impulses without the need to push my boundaries.
Continuing to absorb the morning view, I slurped on a now lukewarm brew when the front doors in the house across the street opened wide and a pretty blonde woman from last night stepped out towards the car. Seconds after, the man in a casual jeans and red sweater followed her and shut the door behind him. Striding towards the lady, the hunk rudely cupped her asscheek as he approached her and opened the passenger's doors. She could be a hooker but ladies of that profession don't sleep over. Or do they?
As I was about to stand up and sneak back inside, the man raised his ocean blue eyes at me. A playful smile danced on his lips and a carefree wink sent my body into a temporary frenzy. Did he just wink at me? Shit! Off you go, Sam! Inside! With my heart in my throat, roaring ever so loud, I pressed myself against a cold wall behind the closed doors and held my breath feeling hazy. Hearing a blaring ignition of a powerful engine and tires squeak in an overlap, only then, I could finally exhale. What the hell is wrong with me? Why in the God's name was I so intimidated by this stranger?
Meow ran over my feet, brushing its tail over my bare ankle and I jumped at least few inches up in the air. With my heart still thudding fast, I jolted up the stairs and ran into sleepy Ian.
"Hey, babes. What's up?" He yawned, rubbed his frowning face and tottered towards the bathroom.
"Good luck with your audition! I'm off to town to get some food shopping done." I blurted quickly, trying to sound as normal as ever.
"Thanks!" Ian blinked heavily then shut himself in the bathroom.
I kept reminding myself to breathe when I came back to my room and went through the wardrobe. After quickly texting my friend Anna to meet up for coffee and cake, I slid into a pair of skinny jeans and a bright pink polo shirt. 'It's spring - I can pull off the new trends in colorful outfits', I thought to myself and peaked out the window to check whether it was safe to go outside. The convertible was long gone.
"Phew." I sighed and bracing the odd flutter in my stomach, went outside.
***
"Sam!" Anna waved sitting at a far end of local Starbucks in central Compton.
Displaying her perfect round curves in a tight satin blouse and a short mini skirt, Anna had her strawberry blonde hair half-tied in a messy bun and looked as flawless as ever. She was already in a showbiz, if dating a rich guy, who's directing low base underground thrillers, count to that. I've scanned her on my way to the table and planted a short peck on her rouge cheek, then sat down in front of her.
"That guy at the check-out. Oh my..." She breathed enthusiastically and waved the hand for a fan in front of her face, covered in heavy layers of make-up.
I met Anna in one of the office parties. She worked as a secretary for a local newspaper in the same building with me and although she hated the paycheque, she'd boast of a good atmosphere and intriguing gossip. Girls like Anna loved to find out the celebrity juice first! Perhaps if I were as confident as my friend, I'd rock a vigilant curiosity just as well. I was a quiet mouse-type administrator in editor's office, with my head buried to the papers most of the time. I worked my ass off and didn't mind it because there weren't many men in my workplace. As long as I'm not surrounded with constant nagging by an odd fellow male colleague, the work is bee's knees.
"I'm going to grab myself an Americano. Want something else?" I asked and watched her think for a second, before she shook her head.
"I'm fine with cold as my heart Frappuccino. Thanks, though!" Anna giggled and sagged in her seat, wrapping her beautifully manicured fingers around a clear plastic cup.
Thankfully, the queue wasn't long and once the man in a charcoal suit paid for his order, I was served right away. A whiff of mesmerizing fresh woody cologne left by him moving to the side, made me unconscious for a split second. A damn air conditioner didn't help the spell it left on my sensitive respiration.
"Hello, what would you like?" A distant question of a cashier shook me awake.
"I'll have an Americano with a dash of cold semi-skimmed milk, please." I ordered and bowed my head to my purse, trying to regain my composure.
"That'll be two forty-five." A young guy smiled.
I couldn't imagine what Anna saw in this young man. He was not more than nineteen. Oh, Anna.
I didn't have enough courage to look to my left. The area where they served you a drink after you've ordered was a narrow space between tables and a coffee machine. This man's musk was something otherworldly and I wasn't ready to give in to temptation. Even a single glance to his direction would mean my surrender and a break of a promise I made to myself. No man will ignite my lust. No man will ruin me. No man will corrupt me. No man...
"White Americano?" Barista had to repeat herself twice before I finally realized it was my order.
"Thanks!" I gave her half a smile and hurried back to Anna.
"Are you ok?" She searched my panic ridden face.
"I'm fine."
"Did that handsome suit say anything to you? If he did, can I have his number?" Anna squinted behind me.
"No, and why are you still with Frederick if your mind is at every other guy but him?" I felt the tension ease off and I could finally concentrate on other things.
What's happening with me lately? Why can't I act cool and collected when a man stands next to me or gives me a wink? It wasn't a problem before so why is it so hard to deal with my own sworn abstinence all of a sudden?
"Fred's been so busy lately, "She sighed heavily, "and we haven't had sex in days! Can you imagine?" She waved her olive tanned arms in the air with a disapproving frown and then took a long sip through a straw.
I sat unable to comprehend with her statement, "I actually can." Did she really just ask me such a poignant question?
"Oh, right. I'm sorry, sweetie." Anna paused thinking what to say next, "I'm going to LA this Wednesday night. A girl's night out and you're invited, of course!" She gave me a glowing beam.
"I..." For a moment, I wanted to politely decline her invitation knowing there will be guys wherever the girls have planned their night out and I doubt it'll be in a nunnery. But it's been months since I socialized and had a tipsy night of fun. A bottle of Merlot with Meow as a company didn't count to a good time. At least not for the rest of the world. "Ok, I'm in!"
"That's my Sammie!" Anna chortled, with tiny laugh lines appearing around her brown beady eyes. "But seriously, wasn't that suit sizzling?"
"Anna..." I sighed and leaned back to the chair, scowling my friend with a piercing stare.
***
After Anna left to run some errands, I rushed to the grocery store. With Ian's scribbles in a list of some sort, I walked across the aisles, looking for tofu and humus dips. Grabbing myself some minced beef, I could already imagine spaghetti Bolognese for dinner. Vegetarians do miss out on delicious wonders of meat and no tofu can replace it! Fact. Or is it? Smiling to my own little debate, I hummed Sia as I pushed the trolley in a half empty store. The very last product on Ian's list was eco detergent.
"Great!" I snorted when I realized I had to be at least six-feet-seven to reach it. Ugh!
Stretching my hand as high as I could, I wasn't able to reach it and it looked like all of the employees took a break all at once. Turning to my left, then right, I still couldn't see anyone so decided to tell Ian a little lie - eco detergents get sold out pretty quickly, right? Right!
"Was this what you were so unsuccessfully after?" A tall figure appeared out of nowhere and easily reached out the square box from the top shelf.
It's fair to say, I nearly fainted from a heart attack.
"Miss?"
I was slowly conceding into my own worst nightmare. Slowly but surely. I looked at him and drowned in the familiar ocean blue stare at a wicked instance. Every part of me screamed to abandon my trolley and scoot out of the store as far as my eyes could see. But what was that sinister danger deep down, wanting to smile back to the stranger?
"Thanks." I blurted out quickly, without realizing that my black leather jacket got stuck by a buttonhole between metal bars of the trolley and as I turned around to take the detergent, the entire trolley fell on its side with a loud thud. Apples and pears, hummus and salad bags were all scattered shamefully on the floor. 'Well done, Samantha. Well FUCKING done!' I screamed at myself inaudibly.
The stranger laughed, perhaps too loud and a store cleaner hurried with a bucket and a mop. Great! When I needed a hand with my shopping, none of the store workers are around and once I'm embarrassing myself to the highest degree, everyone, including a cashier and a store manager, come to see what's the fuss all about.
"I'm so sorry." I looked up at an old balding man who had a name Ted written on his nametag alongside the manager's letters underneath.
He grinned, not too politely, and bent down to help me clear the mess, or whatever that was left of it, back to the trolley.
"Here, let me help." The blue-eyed demon said.
He pulled his dark suit trousers up and bent next to me. An inch, perhaps two, too close. That menacing hint of fresh wood whiffed right through my spine - it's that suit guy from Starbucks! Unable to move a muscle, I froze where I was. With my head somewhere out of this universe and thighs tingling amuck, I sprung back and fell on my bum. 'The more embarrassment, the better, Sam.' I buried my blushing face in my hands. There was a thin line left between my sanity and hysteria.
A buzzing beehive circled the trolley with mops, cleaning splatters of humus and guacamole. Half a dozen pair of hands helped the bloody apples, not me. Until I noticed the scent hasn't disappeared yet and a pair of blue eyes were gazing at my clumsy self.
"Are you going to sit there like that?" The man asked with a raspy voice of utter confidence.
With my face still covered by hands, I peaked through the gap of my fingers to see him extending his right hand at me. "The tiles are pretty cold, you better stand up before you get an infection."
What does he care? Fighting back the urge to touch him, I tried to stand up by myself only to fall back on a slippery mopped floor. Unintentionally biting my lip, I looked at his shiny black pointy shoes and finally took his hand into a loose grip to pull myself up. The softness of his skin brushing against mine was everything I feared most - I liked it.
The moment I stopped drowning in devil's intimidating gaze was the moment I knew it was time to sprint out of the store and do the bloody shopping online. With everyone's eyes now on me and not the goddamned apples, I handed a twenty-dollar bill to the manager for the mess and ruined products.
"Sorry." I apologized and started walking to the exit with my head bowed heavily down.
Loud and annoying footsteps followed from behind. "Let me take you for lunch. Surely, you won't have anything to eat with an empty fridge."
Go away. Get lost. Leave me alone. "I'll pass."
Striding over in a parking lot, he didn't leave my side. I hurried as fast as I could to my Polo when he halted and stayed couple of feet behind. Just when I thought he had left me alone and got the message, I was finally able to breathe but then I heard him say astonished, "You're my neighbor from 341, aren't you?"
How the hell does he know where I live? I didn't turn around, nor did I stop at any of his words. Sliding under a wheel, I closed and locked all doors, then ignited the engine.
"Hey, wait up!" I heard him shout and saw the man running towards me. Pressing on a gas pedal, I drove as quickly as I could, as far away from the suit as possible. This entire morning is a waste of my life. I've never been this nervous over some stranger in the past. My walls were built up high but how in the God's name was he able to climb over and peak at me? Smashing some of the bricks over just to have a better glimpse at my soul. I wasn't ready for a man in my life. Not this type of man. Ian and Callum were the only men I approved.
I stormed back in the house to find it empty. Boys have probably gone to LA for Ian's audition and Meow was roaming the neighborhood as always. The peace and quiet was everything I needed. Turning on the Bluetooth speakers in the kitchen, I scrolled through my cell's playlist and decided to play it on shuffle. A soft upbeat tune helped me take some of the tension away, but it wasn't good enough and I've decided to increase the volume. There! Perfect. With a nearly empty fridge and a growling stomach, I applauded the blue-eyed villain for his smart remark earlier.
"Tinned beans in ketchup. Perfect!" I clapped my hands and emptied the content to a bowl, then pushed it in a microwave, setting the timer for two minutes.
Whilst the beans were cooking, I ran upstairs and grabbed my laptop to finally get that food shopping sorted. Downstairs, back the kitchen, I sat at the table and waited for my old MacBook to finally turn on when a loud knock on the door shook me off my seat. Turning off the speakers to a mute, I tiptoed to the hallway. A square matte door window didn't help to clearly see who it was. Another knock made my heart skip several beats at once.
"Who's this?" I asked, uncertain.
"Hey, I didn't get your name." Achingly familiar voice came from the other side.
Suit followed me to my house. How convenient. "Go away." I hissed through the door.
"I know you probably think I'm some sort of a freak." He spoke hoarsely, "But I live across the street in 365. I couldn't help but recognize your white Polo."
Wait. What? He's THE neighbor who so openly has sex with his curtains wide open. He's to blame for my dire orgasm last night. I can't...
"Hi." Was the first suffocating word that came past my partially opened lips when I opened the doors.
The urge to slam them shut in his face wasn't strong enough. Leaning in a doorway, I felt a vapid smile curving upwards on my lips.
He stood smiling back at me in his three-piece dark suit. I couldn't help but scan him rather eagerly. A light tint covered his rugged stubble. Dark, almost black, unruly hair and that tantalizing smirk in his intense gaze. Those eyes were to die for - sharp blue ocean with a hint of grey spark just around the pupils. For a second I felt like staring into an endless vast galaxy made entirely of tiny universes. The depth of his glare was incredibly surreal. The visible solid curve of his shoulders and that broad neck with a rigid vein, drawing a fine line from his nape up to the distinct square jaw. Can this man be any more alluring?
"I'm Dorian King." Suit smiled and extended his arm without breaking the intense stare. The name was just as intimidating as his looks. And I was a life long fan of classic literature. Especially Oscar Wilde.
"Sam..." I breathed with overwhelming knots in my stomach, "Samantha Beales."
"Nice to meet you." He realized I won't shake his hand and shoved it deep in his pocket.
"Likewise." I stuttered gasping, feeling my entire body cover in a nervous perspiration. My face was on fire, to say the least.
"I was on my way to lunch and was wondering..." Dorian spoke after an awkward silence fell in between us, "would you like to grab a bite together?" His grin grew wider and brighter with anticipation.
'Get yourself together, Sam! All he wants is to take you out so he can get his hands on your body. He can be a possible nemesis. Steer clear at all costs.' I kept repeating to myself.
I heard microwave beat twice for the third time as a reminder to get those skinny beans out. My stomach grumbled in a loud scream. I was certain Dorian heard it.
"I think your stomach agrees." He laughed heartily proving me right. His beautiful set of teeth beamed the sunlight and there was no denying he was perfect beyond comparison. Why, oh why, am I so weak all of a sudden?
Do I have anything to lose other than my dignity and soul? "Let me get dressed." I blurted out quickly and ran upstairs leaving him ponder dreamily in the doorway.
What am I doing? Jesus Christ and all the Saints, redeem me to a greater purpose. Don't let this man undo me for his violation and selfish gain!
Quickly running my eyes for the perfect attire in the wardrobe, I paused. It's not like I'm going on a date. It's just ordinary lunch. I'm starving. He's hungry. Presuming we'd eat and go back to our own lives, I didn't have to dress to impress. Bright pink polo shirt with a single collar button undone, not too open, not too tight. The jeans were too skinny and it hugged my round derriere for a sinister attention but if I stay here longer than I should, he'll get an impression that I'm trying to look approachable. Which I'm definitely, most certainly, hundred percent NOT! And with that, I hurried downstairs and hopped into my yellow pumps, then wrapped the same leather jacket around my shoulders.
"Ready?" Dorian smirked, playfully swaying on his feet.
I nodded and unlocked my car in the driveway.
"No, let me drive. It's the least I can do. The whole town will be speaking about your little accident in the store." He chuckled in glee.
Should I laugh with him or at his remarkable highlight? Noticing my disapproving frown, he shook his head and gestured for me to join him in his convertible parked across the street.
"Hop in." Dorian waved and opened the doors for me.
Looking out for my precious behind, I didn't want to end up where the blonde lady was this morning - cupped under his broad palm over her asscheek. Quickly climbing into the passenger's seat, I hesitated to fasten my seatbelt in case I'll need to jump out of the moving vehicle. Who knows what this gorgeous blue-eyed monster's got in his twisted mind?
Dorian got into the driver's seat after me and wrapped the seatbelt around his flat chest. "Where would you like to go?" He asked and twisted at me, then added. "You might want to get that seatbelt fastened. Convertibles aren't that safe, you know.
He cares too much. Way too much.