Your comments to me are like spinach to Popeye. Like sun to Superman. Like beer to a firefighter.
Awesome.
Here is the scene I was thinking of posting on that blog contest but didn't. It's from my story, Setting the Record Straight.
“You throw a great wedding Kerry. Congratulations again,” he said to her, putting his arms around her and pulling her in for a hug.
“You look even more tired than I feel,” she said.
“My schedule’s off. It’s early for me, my day is just starting.”
“I don’t know how you do it. Thanks for filling in at the last minute. You made an excellent groomsman.”
“Thank you, but it was my pleasure. Whatever you need, you know that.”
“I do know that. Speaking of which, do you think you could take Riley home? I don’t think she should drive.”
“Sure. I think she’s still out on the deck.”
The last thing Colin wanted was to see Riley but Kerry was right. He kissed his sister on the cheek and shook Patrick’s hand before he went to find her.
Colin checked the deck but he could tell right away that there was no one out there. He searched the reception hall and then headed to the parking lot to see if her truck was in the lot.
His heart skipped a beat when he saw that it was gone. Maybe Riley had someone drive her, he thought, but he knew she was too stubborn for that. He ran to get his father’s car keys.
By the time he gave a brief explanation to his parents and headed back to the car his temper was again at full boil. He followed the familiar roads to Riley’s house. What if she didn’t make it home? What if she hit something or someone? What if she was hurt?
As he pulled up in front of her house he saw her truck parked in the driveway. He stalked up her front steps and pounded on the front door. Ramsey barked steadily from the other side.
“Go away,” Riley said through the door.
“Riley, open this door.”
“Not a chance.”
“Open the damn door.”
“Are you completely mental?”
“Open it.”
Riley could feel Colin’s anger through the thick wood and she wondered if he could cause it to implode. She slowly unlocked the door and pulled it open, holding on to Ramsey’s collar with her other hand.
Colin swept in and slammed the door shut. His hands were unexpectedly gripping her and touching her everywhere.
“What are you doing?” she sputtered, losing her grip on the dog, who took off for the kitchen.
Some guard dog, she thought.
“I’m checking you for injuries. Do you have any idea what you put everyone through? Leaving the party and driving home drunk?”
“I am not drunk,” she said pushing at his hands. “I’m all sobered up thanks to you. I didn’t hit anything so you can stop touching me.”
“Are you sure? You didn’t swipe any cars? You didn’t take down any mailboxes?”
“Of course not.”
“Good.”
Colin pushed her back against the wall and covered her mouth with his giving her one searing kiss after another. His fingers pulled the pins from her hair and it fell around her shoulders in large red waves. He pressed even closer crushing her satin gown.
Riley’s heart was beating out of her chest and she was running out of air, but she didn’t care. She let him kiss her again and again. When his mouth was on hers she felt whole. When his hands were on her she felt alive. It had been so long. It was as if her body was waking up from a very long sleep just waiting for him.
When Colin realized she wasn’t fighting him but, in fact, kissing him back he calmed. He kissed her slower, exploring every inch of her mouth with his own. She tasted sweet and he found himself becoming addicted to it.
His fingers traveled down her arms and he lifted her hands, pressing them against the wall on either side of her head. He released them to pull her closer and felt Riley wrap her arms around him pushing her fingers into his hair.
Colin broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers while he tried to catch his breath. “I feel - I can’t - damn.”
“More,” she said and kissed him again.
It was as if Riley were getting all her oxygen from him and if they stopped she might not be able to breathe ever again. His hands on her body were always moving, caressing her skin and dragging her tightly against him.
She could feel his muscles moving under his clothes and she wanted to see him, all of him. Her hands slipped under his tuxedo jacket and she tried to push it off of him, but he stopped her and broke the kiss again.
“Ri.”
“Yes,” she answered trying for the jacket again.
“No, wait,” he said taking her hands.
“No more waiting.”
Riley tried to reach for him again.
“Wait. We can’t do this.”
It was like he had dumped ice cold water on her.
“Can’t?”
“No, not like this,” he said and stepped back raking his fingers through his hair.
“Like what? Like me?”
“No, it’s not you.”
“Then what?”
“I didn’t come here for that.”
“What the hell did you come here for?” she snapped at him.
“I was supposed to take you home.”
“I am home.”
“I guess you were lucky you made it here in one piece,” he said, the anger creeping back into his voice.
“So you thought, what, that you would drive on over here and give me a good talkin’ to? Tell me all about the evils of drinking and driving. It’s been a long time since I had to answer to anyone Colin. I’m certainly not going to start now with you.” She started to walk away and then spun back around to face him. “What the hell did you kiss me for?”
“I didn’t mean -”
“You never do,” she interrupted him.
He snapped back at her. “You think it’s better if I just take advantage of the situation? I should just take you up against the wall there and not worry about the consequences this time? Isn’t that what you’re so pissed at me about already?”
“Then why?”
“I don’t know why,” he admitted. “I was so - mad when I realized you drove home. Maybe you had an accident, maybe you were hurt. And then when I got here, and I saw you, well, you look really beautiful. And I’ve been thinking about doing that half the night.”
“Right,” she said sarcastically. “Colin, you can’t keep doing this. You can’t keep screwing with my head.”
“It’s not like I planned it.”
“Yeah, you have made that abundantly clear. There’s another week of therapy.”
“I’ll go,” he finally said.
He walked past her to the door and opened it. He stood another moment and then stepped out onto the porch.
“Please don’t skip the brunch tomorrow because of me,” he said and then he was gone.
Riley locked the door behind him and collapsed on the stairs in a pool of satin. Ramsey was suddenly at her side and she leaned into him. The tears coming down her cheeks were hot with shame and regret. Each beat of her heart was more excruciating than the one before.
How many times can one man break a girl’s heart?
