Chapter 2
1504 Words
“It's quite uncomfortable.”
“Wh..what?”
“Your stare.”
“Oh. I'm sorry about that.” Claire cleared her throat, “it's just…..never mind.” She thought it would be better to keep her thoughts to herself.
“Why are you here?” The stranger asked, looking straight into her eyes.
“I don't talk to strangers.”
“But you stare at them?”
Claire cleared her throat again, she didn't know what to say to this man.
“I'm Luther. Nice to meet you.” He said with a smile on his face.
“Oh….I'm Claire.”
“Miss Claire, it's miss right?”
“Uhm…yeah…I guess.”
“You guess? Anyway, aren't you too young to be in a bar?”
“Aren't you too old to be in a bar? You should be with your wife and kids.”
“Ooh...feisty are you?”
Claire looked down, she felt heat in her cheeks. “No one has ever said that about me, I come across as shy.”
“You can be anything you want. Can I sit with you?”
“Uhh yes”
“You sound hesitant.”
“I'm just nervous. To talk to you.”
“Why?”
“You know….”
“Wait .. let me clear that up. I'm not married, nor do I have kids. I've been divorced though, but that was a long time ago.”
“Oh…I see ..you didn't have to share such private information with me.”
“That I'm divorced? No, it's fine.” “What about you?”
“You want to know if I've been divorced?” Claire's eyes widened.
He chuckled, “Obviously you haven't. Any serious relationship?”
“Can I get another shot please?” Claire asked the bartender, then she turned to Luther, “I was told today that I'd be getting married to a man I've never met and the date for my wedding has already been fixed.”
“Woah…I take it you don't like that decision.”
“Would you?”
“Well, I wouldn't.”
“I really wish there was something I could do to stop it.”
“Try meeting him first. What if you like him?”
“I'd never like him. I've heard some things about him and they aren't good. Besides, I don't want to get married, maybe later but not now.”
“Hmm …”
“Oh don't mind me, I'm boring you with my problems. Silly me.”
“No you're not, I want to hear you talk. I like the way you talk.”
“You say the funniest things.”
“Do I? I guess I really do like talking to you. I am a man of little words.”
Claire burst out with laughter, she used both hands to cover her mouth.
“I’ve never heard someone describe himself that way. You're funny.”
“I'm glad you can laugh now. You've been looking gloomy since I saw you. You know, I watched you for a while before approaching you. This marriage thing must really make you sad.”
Claire breathed out loudly and dropped her shoulders. “Yes, it makes me sad.”
“If only I could help.” Luther said.
“If only you could give my father millions of dollars for his business.” Claire replied and they both laughed.
They talked more and continued to drink together. They didn't know how much time had passed until the bartender signaled that it was almost closing time.
“Oh my God it's past 4am! My father will kill me!!” Claire announced.
“I thought this was your freedom day.”
“Yes, but I left the house in a hurry. I don't have my cards or enough money with me to book a room.”
“I am staying in a hotel not too far from here. You can sleep there, if you don't mind.”
Claire bit her lip and closed her eyes. She thought about it for a while.
“Okay. Let's go.”
Claire noticed how Luther tried to stay out of her way at the hotel room and it made her smile, she felt kind of secure. It was strange that she would feel this way, safe, being around a stranger at that. Maybe it was the alcohol, she was tipsy but she still had control over her thoughts, or so she thought.
“Do you need anything?” Luther asked, startling her. She jumped back to reality.
“No, nothing for now.”
“Okay.”
“Are you nervous?” Claire laughed, “you're actually nervous.”
“Why would I be?”
“I don't know, you're different from the man at the bar. Is this situation uncomfortable for you?”
“No it's not. What are you saying?”
“Don't mind me. Just think of me as….uhm… your baby sister.”
“You're not. Go to bed.”
“Why?”
“You're trying to turn this into a situation.”
“Just admit it.”
“Okay fine. I'm a bit nervous.”
“See, I know you.”
“We only just met.”
“I know right, but I feel so comfortable with you, I feel like I've known you all my life.” She moved closer to him. “Do you feel the same?”
“Yes.”
She hugged him.
“Claire…. You're drunk.”
“I'm not. Do you find me attractive?”
“Please…..”
“Just answer! No one ever finds me attractive, they all just look at me as some average little girl.”
“You're attractive and pretty.”
He stroked her hair and pressed his body into hers. They hugged like that for a few minutes.
“Kiss me.” Claire said suddenly.
Luther shoved her away from him and distanced himself from her immediately.
“Are you crazy?” He asked.
“Yes, I'm crazy, I'll soon be married off to a stranger and the thought of it makes me crazy.
“So you think kissing another stranger is the best thing to do?”
“No, it's not that I want to kiss a stranger. I want to kiss you. I am attracted to you and I know it's crazy but crazier things are about to happen.”
“Claire….”
“It's just a kiss. And I know you want to kiss me too.”
He looked at her and shook his head, this was a mistake. He looked at her again, the girl was to be married off to a stranger soon, kissing her was probably going to make her happy even for a while and who was he kidding? He wanted to kiss her too, so badly. Just a kiss.
“Ok, we…”
Before he could finish, Claire jumped on him and pressed her lips to his. She wrapped her legs around him tightly, she was in heaven. This wasn't her first kiss, but this was the first kiss she felt. Her insides began to burn with desire, her body wanted more. Oh she would take more. If this was a mistake, it was the best mistake she would make in her life.
Luther broke the kiss first, and they stood there staring at each other.
He moved first again, he leaned in and took her lips. The kiss was soft and gentle at first, but quickly, it deepened. Claire felt a shiver run down her spine as he circled his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. She slid her arms around his neck, and she melted into the kiss.
Together, slowly, they moved towards the bed and together, without breaking eye contact, they both shed their clothes.
“Take me to bed. Make love with me.” Her voice sounded desperate as her lips raced over his face.
“This is not right.” Luther said.
“I don't want you to think about right or wrongs. Just today, be with me and we'll move on with our boring life.”
And so, he let the wheel spin. He swept her up in his arms and laid her carefully on the bed. His fingers trailed over her as though he found her delicate, special. And when his hand closed over her breast, molded it, her mind emptied.
Her body arched, giving, inviting him to do as he wished. She moved to touch his chest, fascinated by the ridge of muscles under her fingertips. So hard and strong.
He felt his heart slamming in his chest as her heavy eyes fixed on him.
“I've never….”
“I know.” It made him want her more, he brought her close, so close that her hips arched up to meet him when he came into her.
Her breath came fast and thick, shattered on each long, slow stroke.
Just a kiss, they said…….
- Writer
