Ember

  “Well, that was…intense,” I finally spoke. She quietly looked at me and then down at herself. She was almost completely exposed as her dress lay on the floor of the truck. She was bare from the waist up with her lower half only covered by some lace and stockings. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her shape. She didn’t seem to mind though; she was too concerned with my back. As she leaned herself into me, my chest heated rapidly out of control from her touch.

  “Easy Max,” she warned. Her cool fingers found the gashes in my back and they had already begun to heal but she still seemed to be upset with herself. She softly blew her soothing breath on the disappearing wounds.

  “I’m sorry,” she said mad at herself.

  “It’s okay,” I said laughing lightly. That didn’t go over so well.

  “I don’t find this funny,” her voice cut through the sound of the storm.

  “I do.” I pulled her hands to my face. “My back’s fine. I can handle that.” I turned slightly to show that I was good as new.

  “See and the tattoos fine too,” I said. Her eyes softened when she saw that.

  “You’re right Max,” she whispered.

  “Now as for that giant freaking bolt of lightning that almost split us in two…that might have been a little bit trickier to fix.” My laugh returned and so did her smile.

  “That’s never happened before…I don’t know what…” she trailed off embarrassed.

  “Well then…I’ll take it as a compliment.” I put my arms around her and she fell into my still hot chest and giggled softly. It hit me right then just how tired I was and if it hadn’t been for her half naked body I might have passed out right then and there.

  “So do you think that will happen every time?” she asked nervously.

  “Nah…just once or twice more,” I said and she pulled herself away a little. Her face filled with a puzzled look as she bit her bottom lip slightly.

  “Why’s that?” she asked.

  “Because we’ll be dead,” I said dryly and her eyes rolled around her head. Her body tightened up on top of me.

  “Come home with me Max.” There was no more joking in her eyes, only waves of blue passion.

  “I better not.” I couldn’t believe the words came out of my mouth, but they did. She pushed her body into me even harder.

  “Why not?” She tilted her face and ran her finger along my lower lip.

  “Because as much as I want this…as much as I want you…” I swallowed nervously. “I want something even more.” I needed to hear those three little words. I wanted her to not be scared of the way I made her feel and by the look in her eyes I could tell she knew exactly what I meant.

  “I’m trying.” Her eyes watched me cautiously.

  “I know.” I kissed her softly, letting the taste of rain trickle along my tongue. My heart started to pound again, which filled my hands with heat once more.

  “We’ll try again tomorrow,” she said as fact and climbed back into the driver’s seat. She turned the key and started to pull back on the road. The rain had calmed itself again and I rolled down the window to inhale its sweet smell. My eyes caught the flickering gleam of the trucks side mirror. From behind us smoke still spun up to the night sky from the revenge seeking lightning burst. A long charred black scar was etched along the scenery. I leaned back in my seat exhausted.

  “Thank you Max,” she said suddenly. I looked at her lost. She smiled and her hair fell along her shoulders.

  “I’m so happy to be…yours.”

  “Mine?” I asked under my breath. She nodded yes.

  “Always Asia…always,” I said trying not to sound too sappy. She wiped a tear from her eye and smiled.

  ~Breakdown: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers~

  Saturday morning – 9:16 a.m. – September 2nd.

  I knew it was going to be one of those mornings when the music came floating through my bedroom door. It was loud, it was laid back, and it was old. My clock read 9:16 a.m. but it felt like 5:00 in the morning.

  “Rise and shine!” Frank sang from the living room at the top of his lungs. I loved my uncle like my own father but when he started singing like this, I felt like moving out.

  “I’ll be right out,” I called back to him. After about fifteen more minutes of procrastinating I stumbled into the living room. As the morning sun filled the room with warm light my eyes took a second to adjust. As they did I was surprised by what I found waiting for me. On the living room table was a large basket of flowers. Every color and every kind you could possibly find on the islands. There must have been at least ten dozen.

  “What the…” I grumbled. Oz was rummaging his little nose inside a couple of red roses when I startled him. He barked sharply and bounced over to me, wagging his tail.

  “They were delivered about an hour ago. There’s a card but no name,” Frank said sipping his morning coffee.

  “Thanks for being nosy uncle,” I said sarcastically.

  “Easy grumpy,” he warned. I smiled apologetically. “So…who are they from?” he asked wearily. I snatched up the card and the scent of cherry blossoms hit me. I didn’t even need to read the card…I knew exactly who had sent them. On the card was my proof; it was blank with only a pair of red lips smack dab in the middle. Asia’s familiar shade of lipstick.

  “They’re from Asia,” I said quiet.

  “I thought so,” Frank didn’t approve. He slowly paced around the living room with his face all bunched up.

  “Isn’t the boy supposed to send the flowers?” he joked.

  “Be nice uncle. She’s important to me,” I warned. A quick chill ran down my exposed back and I realized that I was standing in the living room in only a pair of beat up jeans. As goose bumps filled my chest, my heart beat a little harder with the thought of Asia’s cool kisses. Frank finally noticed the new tattoo along my shoulder but kept his thoughts to himself. He managed a small smile though.

  “Sorry son, I didn’t mean to rain on your parade,” he said. I looked up at him with a smile, tickled with his choice of words.

  “There’s so much that you don’t understand about her.” Maybe I should just tell him her little secret. I knew he would understand but I kept my mouth shut and he noticed I was wrestling with something inside and eased his tone.

  “Maybe you’re right. I’ll try harder,” he smiled.

  “Thanks,” I said and walked to the kitchen and grabbed something to drink.

  “How did it go last night?” Frank asked from behind me.

  “It went well.”

  “Well? That’s it?” He knew better.

  “We were fantastic and the crowd was amazing,” I bragged and I thought I was done but he sensed a ‘BUT’ in there somewhere.

  “But?” he asked with a goofy smile.

  “But what?” I tried to hide it.

  “Max, I can see it in your face…what happened?” He won.

  “The girls had a few words last night,” I winced.

  “Ahh…to be young again?” he laughed.

  “Something funny?” I snapped at him. I was still very grumpy this morning. I felt stupid for losing my temper with him though.

  “Don’t get upset with me son. You did this.” He was stern but still sweet Uncle Frank.

  “You’re the one that continued pursuing these young women even after it became complicated. Things were bound to get messy.”

  “Messy…” I agreed under my breath. “I know.”

  “Do you?” he challenged. I looked at him hard for a moment.

  “Uncle, can I be totally honest with you?” My throat felt dry.

  “Of course, always.”

  “My first weekend here, when I first met Asia…there was an accident.” He looked at me worried. “She was hurt pretty badly.”

  “How bad?”

  “As bad as it gets. So I did what I could,” I said calmly.

  “You healed her.”

  “Yes and ever since we have had this connection,” I said.

/>   “Connection?” he asked.

  “She calms the fires inside of me,” I paused. He stepped closer to me and almost knocked over a vase of daisies as he did.

  “And that same fire seems to call for her, like it needs her…like I need her,” I said with my eyes wide. “Is that crazy?”

  “Yup,” he quickly said. He laughed making me feel a little silly. I reached down and slid my hand over little Oz’s furry head. His tongue darted out surrounded by a wide smile. I thought we were finished and turned to walk back to my room, when he asked me a question I wasn’t ready for.

  “And how do you feel about Samantha?”

  “I love her.” It just came out. I didn’t even have to think about the answer…it was just there. Frank choked on his coffee.

  “So, I was right,” he said satisfied. I turned back toward him.

  “Everything’s just so easy with her. It feels natural to talk and laugh with her. She makes me feel like a better person when she’s around. I can see myself growing old with her.” I felt an ache in my chest and stopped.

  “Is it possible to be in love with two people at once?” I asked desperately.

  “I don’t know Max,” he said. I was overcome with doubt again and rubbed my brow in frustration. “But I know you should do what’s best for you.” He smiled at me and I felt a little better.

  “I just wish I knew what that was.”

  “What’s the plan for today?” he asked glancing over at the explosion of flowers in his living room. Asia deserved a thank you.

  “I think I need to go shopping,” I said watching those flowers too.

  “Can I borrow the truck today?”

  Wicked Game_28

  ~Wicked Game: Chris Isaak~

  Saturday evening – 6:47 p.m.

  The wind was cool and moist as I drove to Asia’s house with the windows down in my uncle’s truck. The rushing wind helped ease my growing fear of tonight’s date. Asia was expecting me to stay the night and I was sure when I found myself staring into those eyes, I wouldn’t be able to leave this time. But was that a bad thing? If I was going to make any sense of my feelings I had to give everything to her. I did that with Sam and got burned. It was time for me to be happy. If Asia would let me in completely and not run from her feelings, then I think I could be truly happy.

  So here I was driving to my possible future with the sun setting, making the air crisp and the colorful sky beautiful. Vivid orange bursts faded into dark blue and purple clouds as I got closer to her house. The smell of rain was everywhere as I turned onto her road and up her immense driveway. I had been here before but I was still taken aback by the sheer size and beauty of her house.

  I parked the truck next to hers and tried to shake off any nerves I had left. I was wearing some clothes that she had bought me just days before. She had left the designer bag on my desk. They were expensive and stylish but totally not me, and I felt uncomfortable in my own skin now. I rang her door bell trying to ignore how awkward I felt in the clothes. She didn’t answer, leaving me one option, enter at my own risk.

  I walked in and the smell of cherry blossoms swallowed me. Music was playing upstairs and there was no sign of Asia; only a trail of flower petals that scattered their way to the bottom of her staircase. There were no lights on and the last of the suns light filtered through her gigantic windows. Sprinkles of rain gently began to pepper the windows as I made my way up the steps.

  I followed the music to the large balcony on the third floor when I was stopped dead in my tracks. Lightning flashed on the horizon, leaving the unmistakable outline of Asia at the far end of the balcony wall. Her hair was pulled up behind her with some of it trailing down over her shoulders. It gently swayed in the light breeze across her face. She was tightly poured into a stunning red dress that looked as expensive as any one of the dresses you’d see the latest Hollywood starlet wearing on Oscar night.

  The rain fell softly on the glass awning above us; rippling its way down to the sides and dropping over the edge of the house. Between us was a small intimate dining table set with our dinner. From across the balcony I smiled and held up my hand, revealing a small box covered in shiny silver wrapping and curly black ribbons. She glanced down at it and back at my face motioning with her finger for me to come closer. I shook my head no and waved for her to come to me. Her eyes squinted and thunder quietly rumbled above us.

  “Grump,” I said with a shy smile.

  “Is that for me?” she asked slyly.

  “Nah,” I teased as I set it on the dinner table and slowly walked up to her. “Asia, you look simply stunning.”

  “Thank you, Max. I see you found the clothes I bought you.” She ran her fingers down my shirt. Maybe these rags weren’t so bad after all. She kissed my neck gently, sending my hands to her waist and she shivered slightly from the heat radiating from them already.

  “What’s for dinner?” I asked.

  “Nothing too fancy.” She kissed my neck again. She had better knock that off before my head catches fire. She sensed my wave of anxiousness and walked me to the dinner table. As we sat down she carefully picked up the small present I had bought her.

  “You didn’t have to do this,” she said as her fingers tangled themselves in the black ribbons.

  “Just wait until you open it. Then we’ll see if you still feel that way,” I said smiling. Her eyes lit up and she started to tug at the ribbons when I stopped her.

  “Not now…later.” I grabbed it from her hands and placed it on the edge of the table. The thunder spoke for her as her face looked annoyed. The silvery wrap dared her to touch it.

  “I hate waiting,” she pouted.

  “It’s worth the wait.” I reached for her hand and slid my fingers inside of it. “You were worth the wait.” She blushed at my words and squeezed my hand. The wind picked up, sending her scent through my senses and making me dizzy for a moment.

  “So are you.” Her eyes saddened slightly. “I’ve felt alone all my life. I don’t want to be alone anymore,” she said cautious. Her other hand slid itself over my other hand.

  “Then don’t be.” My words hit her hard and for a second I thought she might pull away from me but she didn’t.

  “Are you staying tonight?” she asked with confidence. The fact that she was even giving me the option was a surprise but then she shifted in her chair and let her hair down making the wind entwine with her curls and I was paralyzed. She wasn’t asking at all. Steam floated up from my collar and her eyes focused on mine when it did. She had me exactly where she wanted me.

  “Well?” She was so impatient but I found her voice hypnotizing.

  “I’m scared to stay.” I turned serious. Her eyes fell away as she wasn’t expecting those words.

  “I don’t understand.” She sat nervous.

  “I’m scared that if I stay the night Asia, I might never leave.” I tried to pull my eyes from hers but it was impossible. Her eyes had swelled with hope.

  “Promise?” her breath stuttered.

  “Asia…” All right, this was it. Time to put everything out there.

  “I love you,” I said the words as honest and full of passion as I possibly could. I was completely exposed. This was my everything. She hesitated and my chest felt as if I couldn’t breathe. She stared at me frozen, her blue diamond eyes never broke their hold but she never spoke. So I spoke for her.

  “That’s what I thought…it’s getting late.” I tore my hands from hers. “I better get going,” my voice sounded pathetic and broken, which filled my head with anger. How could I possibly stay any longer this open and raw? I stood up and turned to leave when the thunder crashed against the glass awning. The balcony shook as her hand caught mine. Asia forced her body in front of mine, blocking my escape.

  “Max no!” she shouted.

  “Asia please move,” my voice cracked with frustration but she only pushed herself harder into me.

  “You can’t leave!” Now she was angry.

  ??
?Why should I stay?” I was yelling too easily. “Tell me! Tell me why I should not regret my honesty?” I challenged her. She began to shake with tears streaming down her cheeks.

  “I may not be able to say it…” her lips crashed into mine. “But I can show you.” Her kiss devoured me as the room and world started to spin. I pushed her away with all my might but it was no use, the inferno inside was in control now. I said that she was my kryptonite and tonight she was going to prove it.

  “No!” I pulled my lips from hers but my arms only held her tighter. The storm outside pushed even harder and began to bury the house in blackness. Lightning flashed everywhere, blinding us every other flash. Fire engulfed my body and my new clothes caught fire as steam billowed everywhere. That was warning enough for me.

  “Asia I think we better stop,” I gasped over the pounding rain.

  “No,” she said angry.

  “We obviously cannot go about this without some control…” I still felt light headed from her taste. “I mean we’ll crack a hole in the Earth,” I laughed at the ridiculous idea but then remembered the deadly arc of light that severed the ground the last time she let herself go.

  “You are not leaving tonight,” she was absolute.

  “Okay…but I would like to live through the night!” I was kidding but she wasn’t laughing.

  “Maybe if we calm ourselves down and start at square one, take it slow and concentrate.” I had barely finished my thought and she was kissing me again. This time soft and sweet.

  “Let’s try it your way,” she said as she walked away from me, dropping her dress to the floor. Silently we walked to her room.

  “Okay,” I whispered as my heart was telling me to leave. If she couldn’t say those three little words now, then she would never say it. I squashed the thought instantly. Outside the thunder had all but stopped and I hadn’t seen a single flicker of lightning since we stopped. The rain was still falling but I found the sound extremely calming.

  I glanced down at my charred clothes and felt guilty for ruining them.