When Love Calls (7 page)

Josh tilted my chin up toward him with his index finger. I could tell he saw the sadness in my eyes because he matched it. Perhaps he hoped he could “fix” me. I was sure he knew all too well that I didn’t trust easily; I was guarded and I hated talking about myself, but none of that seemed to shake him. Maybe he just wanted to know my story or maybe he wanted to be the one to change the ending. It was too soon to tell, and I was petrified by the thought of either.

Josh looked down at his watch, and I instinctively glanced at mine, as well. I couldn’t believe that we’d been piddling around under this prism for nearly three hours. “We’d better pack up if we’re going to make it to my next surprise in time.” I helped Josh pack up the basket, blanket, glasses and the now empty bottle of champagne. The bubbly had me effervescing, and I was ready to see whatever crazy thing Josh had up his sleeve. As much as I tried to revisit the dark and scary places in my mind, he hadn’t let me, and now I was determined to finish the night on a happy note. There would be no more tearful, sobering moments.

“I’m excited! Let’s go!” I extended my hand out to Josh. He wove his fingers between mine, and we made our way toward the museum exit.

Initially, I thought I’d screwed up his plans when we arrived too late to enter the aquarium because it was closed. I was so surprised when the driver took us around back, and Josh hopped out of the limo. “Wait here a sec. I’ll be right back.”

Moments later he returned and opened the door to help me out of the car. As we walked to the back entrance, I was beyond skeptical as I surveyed the shadowed area. “Is this part of your surprise or are we breaking into the aquarium, because getting arrested could really put a damper on the evening.”

 “We’re good sweetheart.” Josh said through his chuckle. “I called in a favor from one of my students who works here. He’s agreed to let us in for a while.”  A young man came to the door and ushered us in.   It all felt a bit covert but at the same time I was excited. He’d really gone to great lengths to show me a night I wouldn’t forget. 

We followed his student down a darkened hallway toward hazy blue light. I could tell by the movement of the shadows on the wall in the distance that it was the reflection of water. We rounded the corner and were met with the most incredulously stunning undersea experience. The entire wall was a giant fish tank filled with bright hews of pink, orange, yellow, blue and green sea creatures. Once again I was at a loss for words as I watched the fish swim gracefully through the water. A gentle tug on my hand urged me forward as we continued our journey. The next room greeted me with a tank filled with massive sea turtles. I couldn’t contain my excitement and I didn’t try. “I love turtles!!” I squeaked. Josh laughed at my excitement and this time I wasn’t guarded. I was grateful he’d brought me here and gone to all the trouble of making our evening special. As he eased up behind me and wrapped his arms around me. I embraced the silence that held our unspoken thoughts and questions. We watched the massive creatures swim back and forth in slow, fluid motion. I was content to stay right there with him; wrapped in the warmth of his arms.

“I think we can find our way from here Kevin. What’s our time limit?” Josh turned briefly and addressed his student.

“I have to have everything locked up by eight o’clock Professor Griffin.”

“Perfect! We’ll be out of your hair by then! Thanks Kevin,” Josh shook his hand and once he saw the young man exit, he turned me around and pulled me in close. “You know, in this light you’re even more beautiful…impossible,” he said mostly to himself. “I don’t know what exactly is happening here, but I want it to keep happening. I want a whole lot more of
this
and you.” I tried hard to focus on his words and not get lost in his eyes. “With that being said, even though I’m so incredibly attracted to you that I can barely breathe, I want you to know this is more than just something physical for me.  I really want to get to know you, and want you to know me. I’m willing to take things slow so that we can do that, ok?”  I had to admit; I was slightly disappointed that he wouldn’t be ravaging me right there in front of all sea life, but I respected his ideals. He was drawing me in, and I could feel my affection for him spreading within me, like ink in water.

“We can take it slow Josh, but not too slow, ok?”  I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. The feel of his lips against mine made me instantly forget his ideals and mine too. My hands explored his rock-hard chest and arms, and Josh made no move to stop me. Alone there in the dark with only the subtle reflection of the aquarium water to outline our shadows, I kissed Josh hungrily as his hand inched upward to my breast. I stumbled back and met the cool glass of the massive fish tank. The cold contrast against my body sent a new sensation through me. I felt like fire and ice. That feeling edged me further as I parted my thighs and Josh inched closer. Now I could feel his hardness pressing against my inner-thigh. I reached down and stroked it, matching the intensity with which Josh kneaded my breast.  I knew he wanted me and the fact that he was trying to control it turned me on even more. I lifted the skirt of my dress and breathlessly begged him, “If we aren’t going to be doing this for a while, maybe we should just get it out of the way just this once? I know you want it as much as I do.” I could see him considering the idea in his mind. I stood there panting, waiting, wanting.

 “Wait!” Josh stepped back running his hand slowly through his hair as he tried to compose himself. “This is everything I want, but not what I want at this moment. Does that make sense?”  I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

“Yes, Joshua, that makes sense.”

“Well damn, did this set me back from Josh to Joshua? I’m not sure how I should take that,” he said with a smile.  I smiled too. He was being a gentleman.
I guess I have to respect that… Dammit!
I tried to think of something that would take my mind off my pulsating heat long enough for me to collect myself. I stood up straight and fixed the skirt of my dress and suggested, “Let’s go see the sharks!” He happily led me to the next tank. When we left the aquarium we went to Wrigley Field and watched the fireworks, even though it wasn’t the explosion I had hoped for, I was content there by Josh’s side.

Chapter Three

Josh had dropped me off at ten o’clock directly after the fireworks. He’d ended the night with a polite kiss on the cheek then sprinted off to his car yelling something about me being dangerous. I chuckled at the thought. A small sigh escaped me involuntarily as I reminisced on the missed opportunity to give those sea turtles a show. I was about to play out the scene in my mind the way it should have ended when the vibration of my phone sliced through my fantasy like a buzz saw.  I swiped my finger across the screen. “Hello.”

“Erin, it’s Amber! Are you busy today? I was hoping we could get together and catch up. I haven’t really talked to you since your mystery man came by to drop off your panties!” Once again she was cracking herself up and content to laugh alone.

“I’m not doing anything today Amber.” I said flatly. “Just hanging around the house and possibly cleaning up if I get the notion. I feel like I haven’t been home much in the past week or so between work and my extracurricular activities.” I knew that would get under her skin.
Ha!
 “What did you have in mind?”

“Let’s go get lunch and then we can come back to your house and hang out. I have something to tell you,” Amber said oozing excitement. I never knew what to expect when Amber said she had something to tell me. I knew it could be anything from a new car to a baby. Either that or it had something to do with somebody else’s business. I mustered up every ounce of pleasantry in me, “Ok, cool. Let me get up from here and get dressed. Come and park your car at my house and we can ride together. Bye.” I hung up and headed to the dresser to grab a gray cotton sweat suit and a white tank top. Next I reached on the shelf in the closet and pulled down a pair of gray and white Air Max. I laid the clothes out on the bed and headed to the bathroom for a shower. Thanks to getting home fairly early and getting a good night of sleep that wasn’t alcohol induced, I felt great. I let the shower create a heavy cloud of steam before I stepped inside. I stood there with my eyes closed and let the water massage my body like a set of warm soothing hands. I let my imagination have its way as I pictured Josh running his fingers gently along my back and down my backside. I was still a little antsy from the night before so I turned around and grabbed the high-pressured sprayer and let it run across my protruding nipples as I thought of Josh’s hands on my breasts and his thickness that only my fingertips had gotten to feel. Slowly I slid the showerhead down to my now aching flesh. Without warning images of Mike filled my head, as he massaged me intently until I released warm sap onto his fingers. A soft moan escaped my lips as rippling waves of pleasure overtook me. I leaned against the wall to stabilize my weakening knees as the water continued its siege and I gave way again.
What the hell?
Had I just created some weird ménage à trois? I was half excited before the guilt started creeping in. I hadn’t thought about Mike in days and mixing images of him with Josh’s felt wrong, even if it was involuntary. As distracted as I’d managed to keep my mind, my body hadn’t forgotten. I wasn’t sure if or when it would. Even now, the prospect of sex with Mike was fanning the embers that remained below.
I need to get a grip!!
Maybe the more time I spend with Josh, the less I’ll think about Mike. I just have to keep him off my mind.
Besides, it wasn’t like he’d been looking for me. I still hadn’t heard from him, but he was still fucking with my head. I hated that and I wanted to hate him for it.

*****

“So tell me about your date with Mike! Do you like him more than Josh? That’s right—you had a date with Josh too! I’m way behind! Dish!!”Amber looked like a child sitting across from me resting her face in her hands. You’d think I was getting ready to tell her a bedtime story or something. She had even forsaken chewing on her garlic parmesan fries for the moment to give me her undivided attention.
Here we go.

“Well, my date with Mike was... fun!”
True.
“We went to Taste of Chicago, I got to see him perform with his band and we went riding down Lake Shore Drive on his motorcycle.”
Also true.
 I figured the part about us having crazy sex in my doorway and me not hearing from him since wasn’t pertinent information.

“It sounds like you two had lots of fun! He sounds like your type of guy.” She hadn’t asked the sex question yet she still found some roundabout way to make a dig.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean Amber?”
She is really trying my patience today. 

“I just meant that he sounds like he has that ‘free spirited’ thing you like. You know, he’s a musician and rides a bike and all that,” Amber said more to her fries than to Erin.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to snap. I’m just so used to you having some observation to make about the guys I date. I know what you mean though. I do like a bit of adventure.” I rolled my eyes and chuckled. “He was cool but I’m still not sure if that’s going anywhere. I’m taking it as it comes.” I was still trying to convince myself that was the truth. Even though I hadn’t heard from him, judging from my morning episode, he was still very present in my thoughts. Even though he hadn’t called, part of me still wanted him to and that was a problem.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I’d never been a desperate woman and I always had options so to be hung up on the one guy hanging in the balance was crazy. The sound of Amber’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“So what about the date with Josh, how’d that go?” Instantly my feelings changed as I recalled my date with Josh and a broad smile spread across my face.

“Ahh, so it was nice, huh?” Amber quizzically. 

“It was
really
nice! He took me to the Museum of Science and Industry and had an exhibit blocked off where we had a picnic lunch. Then we went to Shedd’s Aquarium after hours and looked at the exhibits there. Everything was beautiful!  We finished the evening at Wrigley’s Field where we sat and watched the fireworks.”   

“So… that’s it?” Amber asked cautiously. 

“Yep, that’s it! He took me home, kissed me on the cheek and left.  He said he wants to get to know me as a person and not just physically. That’s pretty different from my usual dates, right?”

“Oh Erin, he sounds like a keeper! So when do we all get to
really
meet him?”  Amber had perked up instantly and was back to her inquisitive self.  She actually looked genuinely excited and happy about the prospect of me being in a “relationship.” For me, it was still too early to call it that. “We should have a cookout or something! I’ll host it at my house. The girls and I will do everything! All you have to do is show up with your new beau.”  I rolled my eyes before I could stop myself. I knew Amber’s wheels were quickly turning. She had been waiting years for the chance to host couple’s nights, group outings and double dates with everyone in our circle. Me being the only “man-less” one had been the only thing holding up the process, so for her if I had anything close to a viable prospect, it meant full speed ahead. Not that I could blame her. Given my fickle ways, she was probably doing right to start planning as soon as possible. I knew Amber would do all she could to not only get Josh and I together, but to keep us together. Still, I wasn’t ready to say whether I was all in or not because I still had reservations about it. The thought of a relationship made me beyond nervous.

“Slow down a bit Amber! We’ve only had two dates! Can I get to know him first before you plan our engagement party?!” I let that thought breeze through my mind for a second. The thought of me being engaged gave me a warm feeling inside. I pushed it down and found a way to transition from the subject. “We’re taking things slow and getting to know one another, but if
we
decide it’s something serious, I’ll let you know to get the grill ready.” We both laughed.  “So, are we still on for this trip to Vegas in October? Now
that’s
something you could be coordinating! I am so ready to kick back and have fun with my girls!!”