Authors: LaVenia R. Boswell
“Oh, I see,” but she didn't see, she thought he was being too ambiguous.
Don't you dare let him think you're stupid!
she thought again, for the tenth time so far.
She let him ramble on about how some types of testing can be misleading regarding a person's true understanding of a subject. Melody only volunteered to speak when absolutely required to respond.
They'd been riding for almost thirty minutes when the limo pulled up into the driveway of a magnificent home. You could see the ocean directly behind the house. Turning to look at Jonathan she didn't know whether she should go in or not. This certainly wasn't a restaurant!
“A chef has prepared our meal to be served on the patio,” he said seeing the look of concern on her face. “Two of my aunts are here and they would love for you to tell them about
America
. They haven't had an American female to talk with yet.” He suddenly laughed merrily, “But, I promise not to let them monopolize your time.”
She felt a little easier. At least there were other women here.
They didn't go through the house but went around the outside along a beautifully flowered walkway that led to a large veranda that faced the beach area. Gardeners were busy tending to various areas of the well-manicured landscape.
Flowers and unique trees were in large abundance. A medium sized pool was surrounded with tropical flowering plants and a large stone waterfall cascaded into it along the side making you feel like you had just stepped into a jungle garden paradise. The foliage was so lush overhead that it almost blocked out the bright sun. The air carried sweet floral scents with it along with the ocean breeze.
Melody found it intoxicating, the entire effect was absolutely breathtaking. She suddenly realized that Jonathan must have tried to recreate the look of his island. He must have grown up in such beauty. How lucky could one person be?
Jonathan held her hand as he helped her up the wide steps leading to the equally tropical looking veranda. There on the white marble deck was set a glass table with flowers, crystal, lighted covered candles and small platters of mouth-watering food.
She immediately became hungry, all reserves thrown to the wind. She concluded that anyone who loved such beauty couldn't be all-bad, besides his aunts were here, and someone had gone to a lot of trouble preparing this fantastic meal.
He pulled out a large, peacock blue leather captain's chair for her then moved an identical one over to her right so they could talk during their meal.
A male servant came out and began to prepare their plates. Jonathan motioned to the servant and spoke quietly to him. Melody didn't hear because she was busy surveying the variety of foods given her.
“Isn't Mark joining us?” she asked.
“No, he has an errand to run.” Before he could continue a beautiful older woman came out of the house. She looked like she could be Jonathan's mother, they shared many of the same facial features. Smiling sweetly she came to the table. When Jonathan saw her he rose and introduced her to Melody as his father's sister, Cassandra.
Cassandra was extremely polite and friendly. She declined Melody's invitation to join them, but stated that she was very pleased to meet such a lovely and charming young woman. Melody instantly knew that she could like this lady dearly if they were together much, she looked so much like Jonathan and seemed such a sweet person.
After Aunt Cassandra said goodbye Melody reached across the table to examine a beautiful, unusual flower in the arrangement. She burned her arm slightly over one of the covered candles that were set around it. She drew her arm back but didn't make a noise. Jonathan had been standing holding his aunt's hand when Melody did this with his head turned away from her, but he quickly turned and grabbed her burned arm.
Jonathan exclaimed loudly, “Oh, no! Aunt Cassandra would you bring the burn medicine please?” She fled into the house and returned quickly with several men and another older woman who also favored Jonathan.
“Jonathan, I'm fine. If I hadn't been so nosey trying to look at that lovely flower I wouldn't be causing so much trouble now,” she stated, not just a little embarrassed.
With her reddened arm being held carefully by Jonathan one of the men applied a salve and then bandaged her arm. After that was done the frightened look left his face and he introduced everyone to her.
Indeed, the other lady was his mother's sister, “Hey Sweetie, I'm Aunt Cherise!”
Aunt Cherise pulled up a chair and began having a lively conversation with Melody for several minutes before his Aunt Cassandra stated, “We're interrupting their lunch Cherise. Perhaps she will agree to visit us again soon and we can just talk girl talk?” Aunt Cherise and Aunt Cassandra both gave Melody an inviting smile, waiting on her response to their offer.
“I'd love to see you both again. Jonathan had mentioned something about shopping. Now, that’s a subject I do know a lot about,” she laughed seeing the knowing look in his eyes. “Maybe he'll ask me to go with him soon and I can meet you both again then?”
The aunts both gave Jonathan a loving smile and slight nod as they left.
“Would tomorrow be too soon? I must make it up to you for me being so careless with my first guest,” he grinned.
“Well, I don't have a class tomorrow, but I do have a job I have to go to. If it wasn't for that, I'd love to.” Melody really would like to meet those gracious ladies again and she was very, very attracted to Jonathan. But, life must go on and that included earning a living.
Jonathan fussed over her the entire meal. He had the candles removed and placed one of the flowers beside her plate for her to enjoy close-up. He was also silently concerned about her burn, fear of her getting an infection was very serious to him.
“Does it hurt badly?” he asked while they walked along the beach. He had gotten a shawl from the house and insisted she wear it, fearing she would catch a chill.
“What?”
“Your arm, does it hurt very much?” he asked again.
Laughing she said, “No, I'd forgotten all about it. Now that I think about it, there's no pain at all. That salve sure works wonders. What was it anyway?”
“It's derived from a native plant on the island I'm from,” he answered.
He was pleased when she grabbed his arm after a wave had washed the sand out from under her feet almost making her fall. It felt good there and he hoped she would leave it right where it was.
The white caps were shimmering and seemed to be drawing his date. She led him further into the water. He rolled up his pant legs as high as they would go but were still getting soaked. This was the most fun he had enjoyed in what seemed like forever. All sorts of things was happening in his mind, body and spirit when he looked at her or they touched.
Melody was having a fantastic time. It was as though they had been friends for years, the comfort and weird emotions she felt were telling her. Every time he touched her skin it was like a pleasant electrical jolt that she felt down to her soul. She knew she wasn’t thinking clearly, especially with what all she was feeling and thinking.
They had been running, jumping and laughing like small children for quite a while when a large wave came and knocked them both off their feet. Laughing and gasping she grabbed hold of his shirt to try and remain standing.
As another wave descended they were both knocked down by the water. She landed almost on top of him. When the water receded she realized they were holding each other.
Oh, but his arms feel good
, she admitted to herself and never wanted him to let her go. Being with him made her feel completely different somehow. Looking down into his crystal blue eyes she felt as though she could disappear in their depths. Slowly, without even thinking of what she was doing, as though she was being charmed, like a cat charming a bird, she lowered her moist lips to his.
His response was odd. She thought he acted as if he'd never been kissed before. He appeared a little startled then closed his eyes letting her continue. She couldn't help but notice that he seemed to like it, so totally unlike herself she discovered she was kissing him again. This time much slower and deeper. He returned her kiss this time and with a hunger they both felt.
For someone who acted like they hadn't been kissed before
, she thought surprised,
he certainly became proficient in a hurry!
As she pulled her lips from his and raised her shoulders up, she embarrassingly couldn’t help but feel his maleness against her thigh. But she didn’t move.
He studied her face, then slowly lowered his eyes to look at her top that was completely revealed through the soaked blouse. Lightly and slowly he slid his right hand down from her back and gently grazed the left side of her rounded chest. His blue eyes appeared to darken as he pulled her back down to him, pressing her tightly against his beautiful, hungry body.
She heard him moan very softly just before he rolled her over on the sand. He kissed the salt away from her face and eyes then continued down to work on her neck. Slowly he pulled the cloth back to kiss her shoulders and downward to her heaving chest. His breath had turned hot and ragged as she felt his trembling fingers begin to try and explore her body. This filled her with an aching desire like she had never known before. Every place his fingers or lips touched made her feel as though she was a precious, worshipped goddess, a goddess that needed him deeply and desperately, right now.
There was no doubt about his joy in touching her or of his strong desire. Her need for him was far and away stronger than any she'd ever felt, but she knew she must put a stop to it. It wasn't fair to lead him on in this manner. She knew full well he couldn't possibly be ready for the kind of commitment she needed for this kind of relationship. And they didn’t even know each other!
Just when she started to say something, he stopped and raised his head. With pleading eyes and his trembling hands holding her face, he asked, “Will you ever forgive me?” He looked as if he could cry.
“Forgive you?!” She was dumb founded. “Forgive
you
? Will you forgive
me
?! I've never behaved like this in my life!” Her face had turned bright pink as she struggled to her feet.
“What you must think of me! I'm s-so a-ashamed,” she stammered. “And, I've ruined this beautiful shawl,” she stated as together stand up and shake it out.
“Do you wish now you hadn't kissed me?” He sounded like a whipped puppy, which made her stop and really look at him.
“No, I don't wish I hadn't kissed you. I . . . I just wish I hadn't carried it so far. It's not fair to you.” She studied his innocent looking face and decided to simply ask, “Have you ever been kissed before?”
He looked out at the ocean with a few stray black hairs teasing his eyes as the wind brushed his concentrating face. She wondered if he would answer.
Oh, it was a stupid question anyway,
she thought, beginning to be ashamed for her foolishness in mentioning it.
He looked back at her with his dazzling smile showing his perfect, white teeth, “I guess I shouldn't admit it, but no, I've never been kissed on the mouth before. No one on my island does that.” Then with a broad confidant grin and his blue eyes dancing, he added, “But I certainly do like it!”