Dark Moon (5 page)

“Did you know
right away when you went back to school that you wanted to become a doctor?” I
asked Michael.

“No,” he admitted.
He raked his hands through his hair and sighed. “I spent another month screwing
around. My dad was pissed. Said he wasn’t going to keep paying my tuition if I
couldn’t get serious. I can’t explain why, but something clicked. I finished my
undergrad degree in Biology. Went straight into med school. Took as many
classes as they would let me. It’s why I was able to start practicing before I
was thirty.”

“That’s really
impressive,” I said. I giggled. “You know all the nurses have crushes on you,
right? Nurse Evie told me you bring them donuts sometimes; are you trying to
egg them on? Have every woman following you around like a lost puppy dog?” I
asked teasingly.

“There’s only one
person at the hospital I want to have a crush on me,” he said in that deep,
sexy voice of his.

“Nurse Barbara?” I
asked innocently.

He laughed. “Nice
lady, but no.”

The wine was
making me feel bolder. “You know I noticed
you
the first day I saw you,”
I told him.

Michael looked
pleased. “Oh, really?” he asked.

“Really.” I
reached across the table and touched his hand.

Michael leaned
forward and took my hand in his. “Do you have any idea how much I want to kiss
you right now? I swear, every man in this place is looking at you. You could
wear a garbage bag and still be the hottest woman in the room. But in that
dress…God, Lana, you’ve got no idea, do you?”

I was feeling
nervous again. I downed the rest of my wine with my free hand. Luckily, the
waitress arrived and I didn’t have to answer Michael.

“Ready to order?”
she asked Michael sweetly.

“Ready if you are,
Lana,” he said to me.

I said I was and
the waitress turned to take my order. If looks could kill, I’d be dead. She was
obviously jealous of me, wished she could switch places and have a hot guy like
Michael taking her out on a Saturday night.

“So, I’ve told you
my story. What’s yours?” Michael asked when the waitress had left.

Normally, I hate
talking about personal stuff. But somehow with Michael it was easy. I didn’t
allow myself to acknowledge that I wasn’t revealing the most important thing. I
would never tell anyone about that.

The evening flew
by. Michael ordered us each a cognac and we shared the homemade ice cream
sundae. I felt like we were in a romantic movie, giggling and feeding each
other spoons of ice cream and whipped cream. When it was time to go, I didn’t
want to leave.

Michael put on a
jazz CD when we got back in the car. We were silent on the ride back to my
dorm. “I had a really good time,” he said softly, pulling into the parking lot
across from my building.

“Me, too,” I
whispered. “Thanks for dinner.”

We sat there
looking at each other, neither one of us making a move to leave the car.

And then, as if we
both spoke the same silent language, Michael and I began kissing, passionately,
feverishly, our tongues intertwined. I leaned into him, wrapping my arms around
his neck, trying to pull him as close to me as possible. Waves of heat
travelled up and down my body.

Michael put his
hand between my thighs and slowly slid it upwards to my underwear, rubbing up
and down methodically. I moaned in pleasure, opening my legs wider.

“You’re so fucking
wet, Lana,” he said huskily, kissing down my neck.

“I’ve never been
so turned on in my life,” I replied breathlessly.

Michael started to
pull back my panties to touch me, but suddenly stopped, laughing nervously. I
had never seen him flustered before. “I don’t want to, but we should quit,” he
said. “We’re in a parking lot by your school. I want nothing more than to make
love to you, but it has to be special. It’s our first date. You barely know me.
It wouldn’t be very gentlemanly for me to ask you to come home with me
tonight.”

I smoothed down my
dress, trying to regain my composure. “I guess you’re right,” I said
reluctantly.

“What are you
doing tomorrow?” Michael asked me.

“Just homework,” I
said.

“Spend the day
with me instead,” he replied. “My apartment is downtown, overlooking the river.
I have a beautiful balcony. We can go for a walk and have lunch by the water
and that evening I can cook you dinner.”

It sounded like
the most romantic day I could ever imagine. When I answered Michael I acted
purely on instinct, wouldn’t let myself consider the consequences of getting
closer to him.

“Yes. What time?”

“I want you there
as soon as I open my eyes in the morning, but I need to go shopping for
ingredients. How about noon?”

“That sounds wonderful,”
I said.

Michael caressed
my hair with one hand, holding the small of my back protectively with the
other. “And, Lana, no pressure, I promise. But, if you want to, you can stay
the night.”

“Okay,” I
whispered.

With one final
kiss, Michael got out of the car and came around to open my door. He walked me
to the entrance of the building.

“I’ll see you
tomorrow, Lana,” he said. Now that we were illuminated from the light on the
side of the dormitory, I could see that his face was flushed.

“I can’t wait,” I
whispered back. I stood on tiptoe to kiss his lips, trying not to press my body
against his, even though I was dying to feel him.

He laughed
nervously again. “Noon tomorrow. I’ll text you my address. And think about my
offer.”

I watched Michael
until he got to his car, then finally went inside the dorm.

Maryanne was
sitting at my desk chair, smoking out the window. She jumped when I came in.

“Shit, Lana!
Sorry. I’ll put it out. Graham left his cigarettes and I just felt like a
buzz.”

“I don’t care,” I
said. I was still lightheaded. “In fact, give me one.” I didn’t want my high to
end.

Maryanne tossed me
the pack and a lighter. “Tell me everything!” she demanded.

“I don’t know
where to start,” I said honestly. “He’s so fucking amazing, MA. I can’t believe
it. I – I’ve never felt this way before in my life.”

Her eyebrows shot
up in surprise. “I’ve never seen you like this.”

“It’s overwhelming,”
I said. “I’m not sure how to even describe it.” I inhaled deeply, trying not to
cough. The nicotine was fucking my head up even worse, but I liked the
sensation. I didn’t want to feel normal again.

“I’m seeing him
tomorrow. Spending the day with him.” I grinned. My face was sore from kissing
and smiling so much.

“Wow, that’s fast!”
she exclaimed. “Do you think you’re ready?” Maryanne looked skeptical. “I mean,
you know if you’re at his house, he might expect sex.”

“He said we could
take it at whatever speed I felt comfortable with,” I replied.

“I don’t mean to
be a downer, but after what you told me happened before, I worry about you. I
don’t want you to be forced into anything you aren’t ready for.”

“I appreciate the
concern but Michael’s not like that other creep.” I sighed dreamily. “And I
think I want to sleep with him. I’ve honestly never felt this way about any man
in my entire life.”

“Hey, if it’s what
you want, then go for it.” Maryanne tossed her cigarette butt out the window.

“How was your
evening?” I asked.

She shrugged.
“Graham came over. It was all right, I guess. I’m kind of bored with him
though. I have to smoke to kiss him because otherwise I taste the tobacco.”

“Maryanne, you’re
so gorgeous, why don’t you find a guy who really appreciates you?”

Maryanne blushed,
and I instantly felt bad. “I didn’t mean anything,” I said quickly. “I just
want you to find someone who deserves you.”

“I’m just playing
the field right now,” Maryanne said lightly. “Maybe in another couple of
years…” Her voice trailed off.

“Want to watch
TV?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Sure.”

I honestly have no
idea what Maryanne put on to watch. I was engrossed in my own thoughts. I
couldn’t get Michael out of my head. The feel of his lips against mine, his
hands rubbing against my panties. I wasn’t fast, I wasn’t easy, but I was
almost certain that I was going to sleep with Michael Reynolds tomorrow night.

The next day, I
couldn’t stop looking at my phone, impatient for noon to arrive so I could see
Michael again. Today would be more casual, so I wore my favorite dark jeans and
a black, fitted t-shirt. I usually avoided that shirt because the V-neck was
lower than I was comfortable with, but today I actually wanted someone staring
at my boobs.

Maryanne watched
me worriedly as I stuffed my backpack with a clean set of clothes and my toothbrush.
“Only in case I decide to stay,” I said flippantly. “I’ll leave it in the car.”

“Just be careful,
Lana. If you do have sex with him, please, make sure he uses protection.”

“Yes, mother.” I
rolled my eyes and headed to my car.

Michael had texted
me first thing in the morning.
I hope I didn’t scare you away. I can’t wait
to see you at noon. xxx

I had texted back
that I couldn’t wait to see him either. I blasted the radio and sung along at
the top of my lungs for the entire drive to his place. Nothing could kill my
good mood.

As I pulled up to
his apartment complex, I could feel myself getting nervous again. We weren’t
drunk. What would it be like? Would kissing him feel the same as it had last
night?

I didn’t have to
wonder for long. Michael greeted me at the door, putting his hands around my
waist and pulling me into the apartment. Before I even got the chance to look
around, he was kissing me.

“I missed you so
much,” he whispered.

I slid my hands
underneath his polo shirt, running them up and down his muscular back. “I
couldn’t stop thinking about you all night,” I said shyly.

Michael took my
hand and led me into the living room. It was modern, with black leather
couches, a glass coffee table, and a flat panel TV. He started kissing me again
and we clumsily fell down onto one of the couches. Before I realized what was
happening, I was lying down and Michael was on top of me, kissing me
feverishly.

Just like last
night, he stopped himself. “I swear I wasn’t planning this, not for when you
first got here. I have protection, but it’s in my bedroom.”

“Okay,” I
whispered.

“I can wait,
though,” Michael said, “as painful as it is.”

“I need to feel
you,” I said. “Kiss me.”

I was ready to
have sex with him. I didn’t care how long we’d known each other. Everything you
read about sex says to wait until you’ve known your partner for a long time to
make sure it’s
special
. I knew what I felt, and I knew I couldn’t wait.

Michael groaned as
I pulled his polo shirt off over his head. He didn’t stop me. And I didn’t stop
him when he yanked my black top off. He cupped my breasts through my bra, then
leaned down and kissed along my chest.

Michael pulled the
left cup of my bra down, and my breast spilled out. He started kissing my
nipple, licking all around it. I moaned and writhed in pleasure, my head
spinning.

“I want to fuck
you,” I heard myself saying.

“Shh.” Michael
leaned in, his finger over his lips. “Not yet.”

And then it was
happening. Michael was unbuttoning my jeans, slipping them off my hips,
exposing my panties. “Are you okay with this?” he asked, already pulling my
underwear off.

“Yes,” I said
without hesitation.

It took me a
minute to realize what was going on. He started kissing down my stomach, all
the way to my pubic bone.

Michael was going
down on me. I had the brief thought that I should be embarrassed, but it was
quickly overtaken by the sheer pleasure of feeling his tongue against me. My
body moved involuntarily as his mouth did things I couldn’t imagine. I moaned
his name, felt the overwhelming pleasure and release when I came, his mouth
still against me.

“God, you’re
sexy,” Michael said breathlessly. I sat upright on the couch, suddenly
self-conscious. I pulled my underwear off the floor and slipped them back on
and adjusted my bra so that my breasts were covered. I still felt exposed,
sitting there in my bra and panties.

Michael took my
hand and kissed it softly. “Is something wrong?”

“No, no,” I
quickly assured him. “It’s not you. You’re really good at that,” I said
nervously.

He grinned. “So
why do you seem so uncomfortable? You have nothing to be embarrassed about.
You’re perfect.”

I looked away. “I
have something to tell you.”

“Okay.” Michael’s
grin dissolved into a puzzled expression.

“Shit, I feel so
weird about this.” I stood up and put my jeans and shirt back on.

“Hey, it’s okay,”
Michael said softly.

“Can I have a
drink? Wine?” I was terrified that when I told Michael I was a virgin he was
going to want nothing to do with me. Sure, maybe it was cool to deflower your
girlfriend when you were sixteen, but didn’t men Michael’s age want a woman
with experience?

Michael laughed.
“Sure. That sounds nice. I’ll be right back.”

After he left the
room, I took the opportunity to really look around. I walked over to the huge
window on the opposite side of the couch. His apartment was on the tenth floor
and he had a beautiful view of the river.

“It’s nice, isn’t
it?” Michael asked. He had come up beside me and was looking at me intensely. Michael
held out a glass of white wine.

“Thanks,” I
whispered, taking a sip. I had been too nervous to eat this morning, and I
immediately felt the effects of the wine on an empty stomach.

We walked back
over to the couch I had just been lying on and sat down. Michael placed his
hand on my leg protectively. I took another sip of wine.

“Feeling more
relaxed?” he asked lightly.

I nodded and
turned to kiss him. We sat there, kissing softly, not like the feverish kisses
of last night and when I’d first arrived today. It was different, but still
absolutely intoxicating.

When we finally
broke apart, Michael said, “You can tell me anything, Lana, and it won’t change
how I feel about you.”

“Okay.” I took a
deep breath and forced myself to say the words. “What you just did for me…I’ve
never experienced before.” I paused and looked at Michael. “I’m a virgin.”

His eyes widened
in surprise. “Lana, are you serious? How is that possible?”

“I know I’m a
freak,” I said morosely. “Remember when I told you I wasn’t dating material?
Well, I meant it.”

Michael smiled and
pulled me to him, so that my back was leaning against his chest, his arms
wrapped around me. “You’re not a freak. I can’t deny that I’m not shocked, but
for me, it’s insanely sexy. You shouldn’t feel bad about being a virgin. It’s incredible
to think that no one else has touched you before or…tasted you before. I love
the thought that I might be the first – the only – man that you let
inside of you. If that’s what you want,” he was quick to add.

“It is what I
want,” I whispered, feeling the weight of the world being lifted off of my
shoulders.

“There’s
absolutely no pressure,” Michael assured me. “I could never forgive myself if I
pushed you to do more than you were ready for. I’d have never suggested you
spend the night with me if I’d known. God, Lana, I just can’t comprehend that
you’re a virgin. You’re so stunning; how have you not had tons of lovers?”

“There’s something
else I should tell you, part of why I haven’t dated, why I haven’t slept with
anyone.”
The part that you can know about, at least.

“I had a bad
experience when I was fifteen,” I said quickly, before I lost my nerve. “My
boyfriend tried to rape me.”

I could feel
Michel’s body instantly tense up. “What the fuck?” he said. “No decent guy
would ever try to push himself on a girl. What did that fucker do? Did you
report him?”

“No, and the only
people I’ve ever told are you and Maryanne.” I recounted the same story I had
just recently told Maryanne. It was the truth, minus the part where I had
almost killed Damon.

Michael sighed. “I
suppose the past is the past. And I can see why it would make you swear off
dating, but I promise you not all guys are like that jerk.
I’m
not like
that.”

“I know you’re
not,” I said.

“And,” Michael
continued, “if you ever feel like I’m going too fast, just tell me to stop. I’m
a big boy. I can handle it.” He paused. “I have to admit, I was hoping you’d
want to stay tonight, to let me make love to you, but we should wait until
you’re ready. I would never want you to have any regrets.”

“I won’t,” I said
quickly. “I want this. Tonight. I knew I wanted it before I even got here today.
I brought an overnight bag.”

“If you’re
certain?”

“One hundred
percent positive,” I assured him.

“Have you eaten lunch
yet?” Michael asked me.

“No.”

“Let’s go for a
walk, stop and get a bite,” he suggested. “I could easily stay here all day,
holding you in my arms, but it’s beautiful outside.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

Michael showed me
around his apartment before we left. His bedroom was huge, with a king size
bed. “That’s where the magic happens,” he joked. Like the main room, it was
simply, elegantly styled with modern black furniture.

The balcony he’d
told me about was off of his bedroom. It was large enough for a small table and
four chairs. “The view is incredible!” I exclaimed.

“It’s why I chose
to live downtown,” Michael answered. He pulled me in for a quick kiss. “Let’s
go.”

We spent the next
couple of hours walking around, sitting by the river, and eating lunch on the
patio of a bistro.

“What an
incredible afternoon,” I said when we got back to his apartment.

Michael poured us
each another glass of wine. “I think I’m falling in love with you.” Michael’s
face turned a dark red. “Jesus Christ, did I really just say that out loud?”

My heart was
racing. “I think I’m falling in love with you, too,” I whispered.

We started kissing.
I could never get enough of his lips, his touch. Once again I found myself
stripped down to my underwear, his mouth all over my body. Michael was wearing
sexy fitted boxers, bulging and hard because he was so turned on. I started to
pull them down.

“Wait, wait,”
Michael said between kisses. He pulled away, laughing.

“I’m ready,” I
told him. “I don’t want to wait any longer.”

Michael started to
protest again, but the look in my eye must have stopped him. Wordlessly, we got
up off the couch to go to his bedroom. He pulled the curtains over the balcony
door closed and got something out of the nightstand drawer – a condom, I
assumed. I was perched on the edge of the bed, heart racing.

He started kissing
me and I moved to lie down. Michael was straddling me. It was the first time
I’d seen him naked, and the second time I’d ever seen any man naked. I reached
out to touch him, and he moaned with pleasure.

Michael
effortlessly unhooked my bra and threw it to the side. Then he removed my
panties. We were both completely undressed.

He pressed his
body against mine, but didn’t move to go inside me. I thought I was going to explode
from the anticipation alone. “It might hurt,” he murmured in my ear.

“I know,” I said.

“This will help
loosen you up.” Michael slipped his fingers inside of me. “You’re so tight, so
incredibly sexy. Is this okay?” he asked.

“It feels
amazing,” I whispered back.

Michael grinned.
“I have to warn you, my cock is significantly bigger.”

I pulled his body
against mine, so that my breasts were pressed hard against his bare chest. “I
promise I’m ready.”

“Tell me if it
hurts, Lana,” he said softly. “If you need me to stop.” He caressed my forehead,
which was damp with sweat.

I nodded. Michael
started to push himself inside me. I could feel stretching, but it wasn’t
painful. “Are you still doing okay?” He hadn’t inserted himself fully, not
wanting to hurt me.

“I’m more than
okay.”

With a moan of
pleasure, he pushed himself all the way into me. I gasped and winced slightly,
hoping he wouldn’t notice. Once he was in, he stopped to let me get used to the
sensation.

Michael leaned
down to kiss me. “I want to take it slow, for you to enjoy this.”

I nodded, unable
to speak. And then he started moving up and down on top of me, slowly at first,
and then faster. Our breaths were shallow, rapid and I could hear myself
moaning Michael’s name over and over.

I lost track of
all time, let myself completely go with the moment, not a thought in my mind.
As I started to cum, I pulled him into me, so that he was as deep inside as
possible.

“Fuck, you’re
sexy,” he groaned. “I’m so close.” And then Michael was moving inside me again,
faster, and he was breathing heavily. With a final moan of pleasure, I could
feel him explode inside of me.

He leaned down to
kiss me deeply, breathlessly. We were both laughing nervously.

“You’re amazing,
Lana,” he said. “You’ve got no idea.” He propped himself up on his elbow to
look down at me.

“That was so
surreal,” I said.

“Are you in pain?”
His face turned serious.

“I might be a
little sore,” I admitted, “but it was worth it. I can’t even begin to explain
how good it felt to have you inside of me.”

Michael looked
relieved. “Let me hold you.” He went the bathroom to get rid of the condom. I
rolled onto my side and pulled the covers around my shoulders, shivering even
though the room wasn’t cold. I was in a daze, not sure I could completely
comprehend what had just happened. But I did know one thing: I would never
regret it.

He returned and
got under the covers next to me, pulling my naked body to his and holding me
around the waist. We didn’t speak, but it was a comfortable silence. I could
tell from Michael’s steady breathing that he had dozed off. I was exhausted as
well, and easily drifted into a happy sleep.