Now and Forever 5, Love's Journey (13 page)

“Where are you going?”

“Well, I thought…since it was our first
time…”

“You’re going to stay the night, aren’t
you?” she asked, looking directly at him.

“If you want me to, no pressure.”

“I do.” She reached out to him.

“Wonderful,” he said, his frowning face
breaking into a bright smile.

He slipped back into bed. Pat cuddled into
his shoulder and turned out the light. Sam curled his long limbs
around her, rested his hand on her breast and they drifted off to a
restful night together.

In the morning, Pat opened her eyes first.
It was early and Sam was still asleep. She peeked at him starting
with his perfect lips that kissed her so well, moving to his strong
arms that embraced her warmly and his hands that brought her such
pleasure. She put her hand on his chest. He took her hand and
kissed the palm, then opened his eyes and smiled.

He looked at her tousled hair and her lips.
His eyes moved down to her breasts, not covered by the sheet.

“Encore, sweetheart?” he suggested, his gaze
sweeping over her body, passion darkening his eyes.

“Excellent idea,” she said, moving closer to
him, while his arm snaked around her waist and his lips moved
toward hers.

Chapter Eight

Both Peter and Sam had dates for the
classical music concert being held in the university’s amphitheater
on Saturday night. They both took their time getting ready, arguing
about sharing the bathroom and critiquing each other’s choice of
tie.

Pat picked up Sam at six sharp for dinner
first. She looked lovely in a turquoise silk dress and her tallest
heels, which still kept her seven inches shorter than Sam. He
presented her with a white gardenia corsage and she gave him a
quick kiss, with Peter watching.

“Hey, Dad, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,”
Peter snickered.

His father growled at him.

At eight o’clock, Peter strolled over to
Lara’s house. When she opened the door he was taken aback. She was
a vision in a dark pink scoop-necked lightweight sweater that
showed off her cleavage and a snug black pencil skirt. She also had
on high heels and an amethyst pendant and matching earrings. Her
hair was shiny and worn loose, draping around her shoulders. Peter,
who’d never seen her in anything more formal than a leotard or
shorts and T-shirt, was impressed.

“Wow…you look…terrific.”

“Thank you. Could you help me with my
jacket, please?”

He placed the jacket over her shoulders and
her hand on his arm so he could guide her to the car.

When they got to their seats in Halsey
Amphitheater, the orchestra was already tuning up. Peter read the
program to her. She smiled when he mentioned the
Liebesträume
.

When the lights went down, he took her hand
and folded it through his arm. The first pieces played were
excerpts from the ballet
Giselle
. He felt Lara’s fingers
spread out, her hand relax. Oddly, being close to her and smelling
the subtle sweet scent of her perfume, reminding him of lilies of
the valley was satisfying for Peter. Feeling her closeness, sharing
the music with her, a sense of happiness washed over him. Peter
never knew a woman, except Bianca, who appreciated classical music
as fully as he did…until Lara. He saw her close her eyes and
wondered what she was imagining.
Had she ever danced to this?
Would she ever dance again?

He noticed her foot moving slightly with the
rhythm and he smiled.
Dancers can’t sit still.
He chuckled
to himself when his fingers moved during the playing of the
Liebesträume
.
Pianists can’t sit still either.
He
squeezed her hand. She smiled at him and rested her head on his
shoulder. He kissed her hair.

Peter let his mind drift with the music. He
ran his thumb over the back of her small hand. He imagined himself
playing
Giselle
and watching her dance in full ballerina
costume.

After the concert, Peter drove them to The
Creamery for ice cream.

“What flavor?” Peter asked, reaching into
his back pocket for his wallet.

“Butter pecan? Do they have that?”

“They do.”

Peter placed their order then guided Lara to
a table. He picked up their ice cream cones and carried them
back.

“I don’t know if I can do this.” Lara chewed
her lower lip.

“You’ll be fine. Eating an ice cream cone is
like riding a bike. It comes back to you.”

But it didn’t come back to Lara. First she
smooshed her nose into the cone. Then she got ice cream on her
fingers because she had to touch the cone to keep from burying her
face in it. Some children at a nearby table giggled and Lara
froze.

“You take it.” She thrust the cone at him,
feeling the table for a napkin.

Peter glared at the twelve-year-olds at the
next table then gently pushed her hand with the cone in it back
towards her.

“Don’t let a bunch of stupid children upset
you. Come on.”

Peter wrapped his fingers around her hand
and slowly brought the ice cream up to her lips. She stuck out her
tongue and he moved the ice cream up against it. Her pretty pink
tongue licked the cone and he wanted to lean in and kiss her…and
more. When she had it under control, he let go and sat back. His
mind was racing and his temperature was rising.

“Funny, I haven’t forgotten that butter
pecan is my favorite flavor.”

She licked the cone with enthusiasm and
Peter watched every stroke while he devoured his chocolate
chip.

When they returned, Peter noticed Pat’s car
parked out front. He pulled the car into the driveway then steered
Lara into the shadows between their houses. He leaned against the
house and eased her into his arms. She rested her face against his
chest while he stroked her hair. He tilted her chin up with his
fingers, then his mouth closed down on hers for a gentle kiss. The
softness of her lips, the sweetness of her taste mingled with the
faint scent of lilies of the valley encouraged him to make the kiss
a more passionate, demanding one. Lara relaxed against him. He
kissed her again, his tongue teasing, then buried his face in her
neck while the fingertips of one hand toyed with the hem of her
sweater and the other traced the neckline, lightly grazing the tops
of her breasts.

Lara shivered against him. Peter slid his
hand down slowly and closed his fingers over her breast. He
squeezed it gently and she moaned, closing her eyes. Touching her
flesh ignited a fire in him, burning, aching for her. Lara offered
no resistance but he knew his actions violated their agreement.
Abruptly, he stopped touching her and moved her an arms-length
away.

“It’s time to take you home,” he said, his
voice thick with desire.

Lara took his hand and put his palm on her
cheek. Then she kissed it.

“I don’t want to…go in,” she whispered,
pulling him to her for a long, deep kiss.

“I promised…” he whispered into her mouth,
as he put his hands on her shoulders and firmly moved her back.

“I know but…well—” she began.

“Have to keep my word.” Peter stepped back
from her.

She sighed.

He walked her to her door, kissed her
goodnight and left,
taking a deep
breath.

* * * *

Lara and Peter spent their afternoons
together. She danced in the Caldwells’ living room while he
practiced piano.

“Let me take you to lunch on Saturday for
our second date.”

Lara sat cross-legged on the floor, mopping
the sweat off her face with a small towel.

“How about a picnic? In a quiet place where
people won’t laugh and stare at me.”

“You’re on. I’ll get food.”

“I’ll bring music,” she said.

“I have a surprise for you.”

“What?” She draped the towel around her
neck.

“Listen,” he said as he played a piece from
Giselle
they had heard at the concert.

Lara’s head jerked up as she recognized the
piece. After the first few bars, she got up and did a few moves
from the dances she had seen. Her movements were hesitant at first
as she struggled to remember the choreography, then it came back to
her and she glided around the room. When he finished the piece, she
clapped and made her way to the piano.

“You learned that piece for me?” She stood
behind him and slid her hands down his chest.

He kissed her palm.

“You are a prince,” she whispered in his
ear.

“And you are my princess…” he whispered
back.

* * * *

Saturday came quickly. Peter picked up the
picnic lunch at the deli before he called for Lara.

“Any suggestions on a secluded spot,
Dad?”

“A little last minute…oh, wait. I’ve got
just the place. Hold on.” Sam went to the desk and took out a small
pad of paper.

“Not too far away, okay? I don’t want to get
lost.”

“Simple directions…you might see a pair of
cardinals there, Pete. Definitely black-capped chickadees and some
goldfinches maybe even a downy woodpecker.” Sam finished scribbling
then tore the piece of paper from the pad and handed it to
Peter.

He nodded to his father then picked up the
bag of food.

“No seduction, right?” Sam warned.

“A deal’s a deal.”

His father smiled and patted his son on the
shoulder.

“Have a good time.”

“I could have a better time if…”

“Deal’s a deal.”

“Bye, Dad.”

Lara was waiting outside her uncle’s house
with a small CD player and a blanket. She wore a full cotton print
skirt in pink and a low-cut matching tank top. The drive was a
pretty one, through a stretch of state forest. The sun beaming down
on the trees highlighted the varying shades of green. Peter felt a
twinge when he remembered Lara couldn’t see any of it.

“I love the smells here. The air is so
fresh. Where are we?”

“Passing through Major State Park. It’s
beautiful.”

After they got through setting up, Peter
unpacked the basket. Cold fried chicken, potato salad, coleslaw and
blueberry turnovers were accompanied by blue and green striped
paper plates and white plastic utensils. Between bites of chicken,
Peter did his imitation bird calls he learned from his dad. Lara
heard the birds respond. She shared stories about her ballet
friends.

“Tell me about your life in the city.” He
lounged back on one elbow on the blanket, chewing on a chicken
leg.

“After I left the ballet…I hung out with
a…a…fast crowd. Some of my friends did cocaine and stuff. I never
did drugs. A dancer is an athlete. Respect for your body, you
know?”

Peter sat silently, his gaze sweeping over
Lara’s form.
I have a lot of respect for your body.

“You there?” she asked nervously.

“I’m listening. Cocaine and fast friends. Go
on.”

“At night we went to clubs…drank, danced
till dawn. It was one big party.” She chewed.

“Party girl?”

“Sort of…Not anymore.” She turned away from
Peter.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he said, taking her
arm.

Lara turned around, groping for her plate.
Peter handed it to her and she quietly finished her potato
salad.

“Have you ever been in love?” he asked
her.

“I don’t remember. Maybe.”

“Did you have many men waiting for you at
the stage door?”

“Some.” Lara picked up a chicken breast and
took a big bite.

“Did you go out with a lot of them?” he
asked.

“A few. We went out a lot in groups. I had a
few boyfriends…”

“Anything serious?” he asked, and finished
the last of the chicken leg.

“Not that I can remember.”

“Did you sleep with a lot of guys?” He sat
up straight and threw the chicken bone in the bag designated for
garbage.

“Peter!”

“Well?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Have you slept with a lot of women?” she
countered, easing back on her elbows.

“I asked you first,” he parried.

“Not a lot. I don’t think…I’m not a virgin,
if that’s what you’re getting at,” she said, changing position,
raising herself up on one elbow.

“I didn’t think you were. I’ve slept with a
lot of women. I admit it.”

Lara shifted her position again, moving away
from the sound of his voice.

“At least I’m honest. You asked. Those days
are over. Now I want only one woman…you,” he said, inching closer
to her.

“But what about tomorrow?”

“Today, tomorrow…only you,” he said, moving
even closer. “You look beautiful. Always wear pink…”

Lara lay back again and Peter stretched out
next to her. She turned to talk to him, but he was too close and
their lips, only a breath away, touched. Peter put his fingers in
her hair, cupped her head and drew her closer to him for a kiss.
She returned his affection, parting her lips. The kiss was slow and
sweet. Then he kissed her with more passion.

The kissing heated up. Lara was on her back
with Peter hovering over her. He moved his lips down to her neck
and his hand traveled down while a finger rimmed her tank top,
teasing the tops of her breasts. Her breath came quicker.

Peter slid his hand down to capture her
breast and she sighed. He massaged it gently, finding the peak,
caressing it through the flimsy material of her top and bra.

His lips followed, kissing her neck as his
hand eased down the straps and exposed her breast to his lips and
hand. Lara sucked in her breath as she felt the breeze caress her
bare skin, followed by gentle pressure from Peter’s persuasive
mouth. Lara touched his rough face then began to unbutton his
shirt. A soft moan escaped from her throat. Her soft touch stoked
his fire. His hand squeezed her flesh as he licked and sucked her
nipple. Lara’s encouragement of his lovemaking fueled his desire.
The longer she let him make love to her, the more his control
slipped.