“So, I wanna get something straight with you.” I said, as Howard and I sat outside after we finished our dinner. He slowly put his arms around me and brought me closer to him. He turned my head towards him and brushed my hair out of my face.
He raised an eyebrow “What’s up doll?”
I sighed. “So this thing between us. I can’t explain it. I...I really can’t. You’ve hit me like a damn freight train.”
He smiles. “I do that to people sometimes doll. Though I do have to say this is the first time that it’s happened to me.” He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes momentarily. “It is disconcerting to say the least.”
“Well at least I’m not the only on.” I paused, trying to figure out what to say. “So uh, this thing. I don’t really do casual ‘things’.” I hesitated, my fear overwhelming me. “Well, I haven’t actually done ‘things’ before. At all. With a man at least. There was one woman I involved with, and it ended horribly.” She stops, wanting to correct herself. “No, it never really started to begin with, at least on her side of things. But, I’ve never had a thing with someone of the male persuasion before.”
Howard blinked for a second, taking a long breath in. “You mean you never..? But surely you had a long line of suitors knocking down your door. You’re beautiful” He raised an eyebrow and ran his hand through her hair
“I ah, yes there have been interested parties, one of which who went too far too fast and gave me a reason to start carrying a taser.” I took a deep breath. I can do this, I can tell him. “I ah..since him, because of him, I could never get close to anyone of the male persuasion. I’ve ah, been too scared.” I bit my lip, expecting Howard to freak out on me.
A pained, worried look crossed his face. “Someone hurt you?”
“I ah, he tried, and failed. Before my dad died he made sure the guy regretted it.” I looked down at my hands, avoiding his face.
He put his finger under my chin and turned my head so I was face to face with him. “I will never do something like that to you. Never. I don’t know what it is about you, but I am drawn to you.” He takes both of his hands and puts one on either side of my face. “You will never ever be just a fling. You are something special doll, and I’m not about to hurt you or do anything to you or with you until you are ready.” He smiled, bringing my face closer to his. His lips slowly touched and caressed mine, gentle but eager. He nibbled on my lower lip then smiled, pulling away. “But I am here for the long haul.”
I smiled, and buried my face into his chest. He didn’t know it, but I was in it for the long haul too.
