Scandalous Desires

Chapter 28

Elliot's lips were soft, his kisses were slow and deliberate, sweet and gentle. Every movement felt intentionally careful. It was as if he wanted to remember this moment; to remember every inch of her lips, to memorize the feel of her tongue around his. It was a delicate dance between them.

Then the kiss went from slow and mesmerizing to fast and intoxicating. She could taste the faint hint of iced tea with a hint of rum in his mouth, feel the heat of the sun on her neck, the cool water lapping against her skin and Elliot's lips and tongue moving urgently on her. It made Micah lose all sense of her surroundings, it made her breathless.

It was perfect, and yet….

"Elliot…" she whispered. Micah could barely speak, she had to catch her breath.

"Micah," Elliot was equally out of breath. His eyes widened because of the shock of the abrupt ending or the unexpected tension the kiss had built between them, she wasn't sure.

"I… we should go. It's getting late." She looked towards the horizon, the sun was beginning to touch the line between sky and water, almost, but not there yet.

"Ok."

The two made their way back to shore and rung out their clothes a little before making the silent walk back to the car. The crisp air was drying them and making Micah shiver a bit. Of course Elliot draped his arm around her shoulder for warmth.

"I didn't expect we'd jump in, otherwise I'd have made preparations. But I have towels in the trunk."

"This was perfect Elliot…." she said. There was a slight tone of melancholy in her voice. Looking around at the scenic forest surroundings she took in the beauty of it all. It was a much needed change from the stress of the city and all that had happened.

"Stay right there. Don't move, not even that cute expression you have on your face," he said, as he ran further down the road ahead of her. He pulled out the mini camera he had and snapped a few pictures. He ran back to her and they continued walking while he showed her the shots he took.

"You're a great photographer." She nudged him in his side.

"Some people seem to think so…" he smiled. Micah sneezed at the same time as she was laughing at him.

"Let's get you to the car," he said.

Without another word, Elliot grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder and began walking.

"Elliot…!"

"Keep yelling my name like that and we'll never make it back."

"I can walk…. You are making me colder!" She could hear her voice echoing in the trees. She started to laugh and could hear the echo even louder.

Reluctantly, Elliot let her down. He pulled her slowly, letting her body slide against his until her feet met the ground. Her arms balanced on his shoulders for support. They were now face to face again. Their lips only inches apart. Both grinning, they felt the pull to continue what they started at the lake, but Elliot could feel Micah's resistance.

"You're gonna be the death of me," he smiled looking at her lips and not her eyes.

"Well, it'll be from catching this cold I'm about to get if we stay here any longer…"

Elliot shook his head and laughed as he held her closer to him and they walked towards the car, which was in close distance now. Close enough that Zack got out the car, opened the trunk and had towels in his hands by the time they reached where the car was parked.

The ride was silent as they made their way out of the property, back onto the highway, and towards the skyscrapers and city lights that were just turning on.

"Your place or mine, babe?" He joked as they got closer to the city.

"Wherever I can get out of these clothes and into something dry and appropriate for Cherry's." It was almost six oclock. She had to be there in an hour.

"Cherry's?" The question sounded more about who she was meeting there than why.

"It's my favorite restaurant. I'm meeting up for a celebratory dinner…," she hesitated with the last part of her response to see his facial expression. He squinted at her, "...with my girls…in an hour," she said finally.

"Ok. There's a boutique near there. The owner owes me a huge favor. Let's get you something there instead and I'll drop you off at Cherry's."

Micah thought about everything she knew and felt about Elliot. She had kissed this man and was now about to accept gifts from him when she barely knew for a week. He's been super sweet, very generous and thoughtful, and his kisses were indescribable… but…it was all happening too quickly for her. She couldn't accept such a gift. She decided that she would go to the boutique and gift herself for a job well done.

"Elliot, for the sake of time I'll go to the boutique and you can drop me off at Cherry's but I can't let you use your favor on me. It would be too much."

"We'll see about that…"

"Promise me you won't call on any favors. I'm buying my own outfit."

"You wouldn't have had to change if it weren't for me. Let me just do this to make up for it. There's nothing more to it than that."

Micah remained quiet for the rest of the ride with messages back and forth from Cassie, Alex, and Roni who were also on their way to Cherry's.

When they finally arrived at the boutique Elliot escorted Micah through a side entrance instead of the front. They were greeted by an older lady, who was short and wore a pink 1960's vintage dress with pink shoes, glasses, and hat. She introduced herself as Ms. Galloway.

"What a beauty you have here Elliot. The best Belle model you've brought us so far," she said. She put her hand out to shake Micah's and Micah held it in return.

The woman reminded Micah of Delores Umbridge from Harry Potter. She had an overtly cheery disposition, but Micah sensed she had another side of her that should not be crossed.

"She's not from Belle," he explained. "But I need you to give her the Belle model treatment please. And we only have about 40 minutes to get it done," he explained, as he checked the time on his phone.

Micah looked confused. "What treatment?" Didn't they come to buy clothing?

"Don't worry about it, dear. You're in good hands. That's all you need to know," she said to Micah.

"Girls!" She yelled, but no one replied. "We need to hurry. Elliott's given us a challenge with this time frame. Girls!" she called again, as she led them down the hallway to a room that looked like a boutique, hair salon, and spa all in one. "We have a Belle model needing a forty minute treatment."

Micah looked at Elliot with a frown. What the hell was he about to get her into? This was not just a boutique. A group of about four women in all black, wearing pink plastic aprons, their hair slicked back walked in. They all looked very serious and none of them spoke. Each of them carried different items.

Ms.Galloway looked at the first woman then eyed Micah's hair. "Julie, We'll start with a hair washing, a rinse, deal with those damaged ends with a cut. Perhaps some brown highlights and end with a pompadour asymmetrical look." Julie gave a nod and walked away without saying anything.

"Jackie," she said to the next woman, "we're doing a Belle model, so keep the look light and natural. No smokey eyes or anything. Yes, for a bronzer, and make her shimmer."

"Yes ma'am." She held a case filled with make up but she still stepped away and disappeared down the same hall they came from.

"We need her for a casual evening outfit, Jada. Pull something from the NightLife collection, but stay in basic tones. Primary colors, or black and white. Shoes and accessories too."

"Of course, madam" Jada bowed her head before running down the hall as well.

Micah's eyes widened in surprise. Hair, makeup, clothes and accessories?

"Elliot…" Micah's voice held a warning tone. He seemed to be very into something on his phone and wasn't paying attention.

"Come, come!" said MsGalloway before she could say anything to him. She led her to an adjacent room, which was a bathroom tiled in stone with a glass shower. The woman with the pink apron pressed something and Water poured from the stone wall like a waterfall. Bright light shone down over the shower area like sunlight, but she knew it wasn't real.

"Quickly, wash yourself from neck to knees. We will do the rest. You have two minutes. Put this on when you're done." MsGalloway pointed to a soft Terry robe hanging on the back of the door. The woman with the pink apron put a washcloth, soap, and a towel in her hands, and then they both left.

Micah blew out an exasperated breath. Elliot tricked her. But maybe after all that time in the water she was looking like a hot mess?

She stood under the waterfall which was warm and relaxing. Then she quickly soaped up and rinsed off. She slipped on the robe just in time before one of the ladies in black returned.

"Please, come with me," she smiled warmly this time. Not expressionless like before.

"Water about the water?" said Micah. She tried but had no clue how to turn it off.

"It's timed," she said, looking at the black and pink smart watch on her wrist. "It will shut off…now." As she said the word 'now' the waterfall receded to a trickle and eventually stopped.

"Wow…"

"Please, miss…"

"Micah."

"Micah, come with me."

Micah was led back to the big room. Elliot was nowhere to be found. They sat her down on a backwards facing massage chair, and removed the robe. She laid her face onto the brown leather pillow and the woman began to massage sweet smelling oils into her skin. Meanwhile each foot was being soaked in warm bubbling water.

Before she knew it she'd gotten a massage, mani and pedi. They then washed her hair and began trimming the ends, as a woman, the one sent to find outfits, walked in with three beautiful choices on hangers. There was one white dress, one red dress, and one blue. Micah picked the red one.

"We're at the halfway point, ladies," said MsGalloway with a clap of her hands. What have we completed so far?"