Page 26 of Rainstorm

When she turned her face to take in the scenery around us, the twinkling lights, the twisted and gnarled tree branches and the low hum of a couple guitars, my eyes remained glued to her profile.

That innocent face, combined with a body made for sin.

And my body was more than ready to accept any challenge she made.

There was no need to look for anything or anyone more beautiful than her. She was breathtaking.

“Tell me about yourself.” She turned her gaze on me but before I could reply, she continued. “See? I’m an idiot, that’s such a stupid, bland, generic question to ask anyone. Let me amend it, tell me how you ended here in the city of angels, being a fancy executive in a big company.”

“Oh baby, there is nothing fancy about my job.” She laughed at my reply. “I grew up on a farm, I think I told you yesterday, and I like to use my hands, get them dirty...”

God, I swore I saw her squirming on her chair. Maybe imagining the things I could to her with my big hands? Easy, doll, all in good time. Let things come to the boil slowly, no need to rush. I’m here, I’ll always be here. She didn’t need a crystal ball to be certain of that.

“What about you? How did a girl like you end up on television, delivering the weather forecast?”

“By accident.” She shot me a sassy grin as she explained. “I was working as a junior production assistant, a lowly minion just bringing the coffee, running errands, that kind of thing. Then, one morning Arlene the weather girl didn’t show up. I happened to be there, they were desperate, and because I’d watched her closely and knew what was required, they threw me into it. It was meant to be just for the day, but somehow I’ve ended up still there almost two years later. A case of being in the right place at the right time I guess.”

“You might have landed there by accident, but it’s no accident you’re still doing the job, Rose.” I’d never watched the show, but if she was half as charming on TV as she was in person, I didn’t doubt the audience loved her, bearing in mind Zeph had told me that my own mother was a huge fan.

“How do you handle being in the public eye?” I asked next.

She laughed at my question.

“We live in a city full of real public figures, so in this big ocean I’m a very small fish, and the paparazzi are mostly too busy pursuing them to be bothered about me. Other than the occasional picture or small article, I have a very private, quiet life.”

I just nodded although I didn’t agree with what said. She wasn’t in any way a small fish. She was a hidden treasure.

A pearl.

And I was eager to be the shell that protected that pearl.

???

Minutes turned into hours and we were hardly aware of the time flying by as we learnt about each other. I was captivated with her sweetness, her charm and her determination.

But I was also surprised to learn that she had carpentry skills, which set off a whole new train of thoughts about us getting down and dirty together in the sawdust, with her all sweaty as she moaned and cried out my name.

But however graphic my horny fantasies might be, I knew we needed to get to know each other better, set our bases first, and the restraint was taking all my willpower.

As we drove back to her house later that night, my determination faded as I breathed in her alluring perfume and was bewitched by her gorgeous smile.

It seemed as if the gods were daring me to make her fall as hard for me as I was falling for her.

My body primed, my mind screaming for me to act, still I had to be patient if I wanted to build on the foundations of our promising beginning. It would take time to plan, to imagine, to create... time to set stone by stone. Nail by nail. Time to be confident the entire structure wouldn’t collapse.

I wanted to take that time with her.

Time to raise a new wonder.

That’s what my head said.

However.

My heart thought otherwise. It was swimming in lust. Drowning in desire. Starving for her.

The warmth of her small hand beneath my much larger one while I drove had my gut screaming that I should make a U-turn, head to my place instead of hers.

But a woman like her deserved time. Time and dedication.

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