Page 4 of Spark

Aurelio:No! Well, only if I drive them!

The smile plastered on Mia's face hurt her cheeks. He was growing on her already, and she wanted to waste the day talking to him. With her hands wrapped around the phone and legs tucked beneath her, Mia felt warmth pool in her belly.

Aurelio:We definitely should meet so I can take you for a ride.

Mia:Oh, that's a little forward, don't you think?

Aurelio:That's not what I meant! Unless...

Mia:Lol. I know what you meant. I'm only teasing you. But are we rushing things?

The sense of uncertainty came back in full force, like a punch to the gut. It was one thing to chat with a stranger, but to meet up... What if he wasn't interested in something more than a hook-up? Was that what she wanted? The fears from earlier, the questions she had neglected, came back in full force. As her heart begged to ask, another message popped up.

Aurelio:Nah, speeds my extra middle name! Lol.

Mia:What's your first middle name?

Aurelio:I'll tell you on our first date!

A date? He wanted a date, meaning they'd meet somewhere and not just at one of their places. Mia took a minute to breathe. A date sounded, well, kind of nice. The twinge of fear she had felt earlier returned, making her fingers hover over thescreen. It seemed as if mere minutes had passed since they even began to chat, and here she was, considering meeting what was essentially a complete stranger. She shrugged, trying to let her fears roll off her shoulders as her finger swiftly hit send on her response before she could reconsider.

Mia:Well, Aurelio Speed Valen. A date sounds nice, but I think I need to get to know you a bit more before I give you a chance to kidnap me.

Aurelio:I understand.

His reply was quick. Mia held her breath as she watched the three dots bounce on her screen. His typing seemed to take forever. Would this be the end of the chat? Had her rejection of a date been the nail in the coffin for him?

Aurelio:As much as I would love to take you out, I can understand your hesitation.

Mia sighed, relief flooding her chest as she smiled softly. The three dots lingered once more on the screen as she relaxed her shoulders.

Aurelio:And just for the record, I would never kidnap you… Unless you asked me to.Talk soon, Mia.

The kiss left her with an extra peppy heartbeat. The intention behind it made her lips lift into a smile as she turned her phone off. She was not sure what had just happened, but a calm settled over her heart. Aurelio seemed nice and interesting. Who knew, maybe he would become a very interesting part of her life.

Chapter Two

Mia rose from the couch and walked to the kitchen while sipping the last of her coffee. “Ugh.” She pushed some papers aside to set the cup down. “I have to get this shit in order.” Another sigh escaped her lips as she perused the empty fridge. Between college and waitressing at the local diner, she hadn't had much time to shop.

The need for groceries was added to her mental list of things to accomplish as she strode over to her little dresser, which was mostly bare. Her eyes landed on a pair of dark jeans, a T-shirt from a band she loved in high school, and her favorite everyday black bra hanging from the bedpost. That would have to do. It was a go commando day.

She shuffled into the bathroom, looking longingly at the tub. How nice it would be to soak; maybe look at that picture of Aurelio a little harder, and who knows... Her cheeks flushed as she shook her head, chastising herself for thoughts about a man she just met.There is something about him, she thought as she undressed. Her laundry bin was full, clothes spilling out onto the ground. Another errand was added to the list. Exasperated, she stepped into the shower.

The water was freezing; the hot water took a long time to reach her third-floor apartment, but it was refreshing as it cooled her heated skin. Thoughts of that man ran through hermind: his muscles under the skintight tank, the tattoos she wanted to see more of, and the short black hair she ached to run her hands through. Mia caught herself as her fingers descended to explore her lower regions. She washed her body quickly, letting her hands linger over her breasts and giving a little pinch to the aroused nipples. Her eyes fluttered closed as she imagined his hands on her body, his full lips kissing her all over. She could picture him holding her curvy hips against the wall while he had his way with her, licking and sucking all her sensitive parts. His hands, rough and calloused, would ease between her thighs and stroke her sensitive bud till she cried out. Mia could feel the heat in her core as she moved her fingers where she wanted his; her thumb was poised to rub her bundle of nerves raw.

Those explicit thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the phone that was left abandoned on the couch. Her eyes snapped open; the water was now hot on her skin as she pulled her mind out of the Aurelio fog. Her ears picked up the familiar, special ringtone that she assigned to her boss at the diner. The moment was ruined. With a sigh, Mia finished washing. Her hair took the longest amount of time as she ran her nails through it, fishing out little knots as the conditioner was rinsed away. It had been months since it was last cut, and the long brown waves had grown halfway down her back.

As the water was shut off, Mia heard the phone ring again with the same alarm. She knew exactly why he was calling. Careful not to slip and almost give herself a concussion, as she almost had countless times, Mia grabbed a towel to wrap her hair. She let her body air dry. After all, there was no one she needed to be shy in front of.

Her heater clicked on as she moved across the loft. All the windows, except the one with the aloe plant, were covered so she could move about relatively freely while naked. Theapartment was on the third floor, and the building across the way was empty as far as she knew, so it's not like anyone would see her anyway. Nevertheless, she quickly grabbed the bra and snapped it on before sliding her legs into the jeans. When she was fully dressed, the ringer finally stopped, and there was the unmistakable ding of a voicemail.

She walked over to the phone and played the messages on speaker while searching for her hair comb.

“Mia, it's David. Flory and Mac called out. I need you to come in today. I know, I know. You will be on overtime, but I don't have a choice. Call me asap.” Mia's eyes rolled involuntarily as she hit play on the second message. “David again. Flory is coming, I guess. But if you want to, the door is still open for you to work Mac's shift. Call me if you want it.”

The phone clicked and Mia's finger floated over the call back button. Money sounded nice, but it was a Sunday. The diner would be slammed till ten and then fall dead from twelve to about three. She would only make minimal tips. Overtime pay was nice, but it wasn't worth it either. She checked the time; it was almost eight-thirty. By the time she got there, it would be after nine, so she'd get maybe two tables.

She put the phone in her pocket and made quick work of her hair, putting the long locks into a neat bun. She checked herself in the bathroom mirror and smiled, satisfied with her appearance.

---