Chapter11: Dinner for two

Marina hadnt given me any idea what we were doing that night. So I had dressed for what I imagined would be Marina type fun; which meant, I was dressed nicer than most people in LA had ever seen me. I wore wide-legged, flowing slacks, a matching sleeveless linen blouse and, because I had to be me, my Birkenstocks. I hoped this would cover the broad range of things she might have planned for us.

Marina pulled up just as I walked out of the Attic. It was 6 sharp. When I saw her, I was shocked. She wore shorts, a t-shirt and a basball cap.

Who the ***** are you? I asked in disbelief.

Marina eyed me up and down and said I might ask you the same thing.

Okay I said as I stepped into the car, Just take me home so I can change, please.

Marina laughed as I leaned to kiss her cheek. No, I am running late and I am the one that needs to change, but I didnt want to keep you waiting. As she pulled away from the curb, she added, gesturing to the clothes, Kit and I were cleaning out the storage room above the Planet today.

I still wasnt sure and sat nervously looking out my window. At the next stop light, Marina reached out to caress my cheek as she whispered, Relax, you look lovely.

I turned to meet her gaze, and saw the sincerity in her face, but brushed it off saying, Yeah, well, Im not sure how much fun a person can have dressed like this, but I guess Im willing to give it a try.

Marina laughed as her hand moved to the gear shift and she pulled away from the light.

****************

When we arrived at Marinas house, she poured me some wine and told me to make myself comfortable. She said she was going to get a quick shower and shed be ready in few moments. I watched her climb the stairs and disappear.

I went over and browsed her CD collection. Nothing Id ever heard of; not surprising, I thought to myself. I moved off to look at the photos on a nearby shelf. There was a picture of Marina in front of the Eiffel tower. She was much younger and her face wore an expression of pure joy. She was stunning. I picked up the picture and lightly ran my finger over her face. I found myself wondering who she was with that could have inspired such a look from Marina and a small twinge of jealously passed through me as I wished it had been me.

The sound of the shower caught my attention. Before I was aware of what I was doing, I was climbing the stairs. At the top of the stairs I hesitated, but only briefly. The thought of the water pouring over Marinas naked body compelled me forward.

Silently, I dropped my clothes on the bathroom floor and stood for a moment watching her silhouette through the crackled glass shower doors. Then I opened the door and stepped in. Marinas eyes were closed as she allowed the water to wash over her head, but the sound of the door caused her eyes to pop open and a small scream to escape her mouth as she jumped backwards. Moving before my brain had time to doubt my actions; I quickly pulled Marina to myself and kissed her. It took only a moment for her shock to give way to my demanding kiss.

***************

We both lay spent on the bed. As our ragged breathing subsided, Marina raised herself up on one elbow and stared down at me. Well never make our support group meeting, now. She said teasingly.

I stared back up at her grinning sheepishly. Im sorry; I just wasnt really convinced that you could pull off fun. I had to intervene.

Marinas eyes went wide and her smile broadened. Oh, you dont think I can pull off fun, huh? she said as her hand quickly slipped between my legs. I gasped at her sudden, unexpected touch.

Clearly, I was wrong, I moaned as I thrust my hips up to meet her fingers.

******************

When I awoke, it was dark outside and Marina was still asleep. I turned onto my side and watched her sleeping for a moment. Her face was relaxed and calm. Her breathing slow and even. I gently brushed the hair from her face and grazed her shoulder with a kiss as I rose and headed into the bathroom. I found my clothes and quickly got dressed. For a second, I thought how like Sunday this was; Marina still sleeping, me silently creeping away from her bed. I let that thought go as I paused in the bedroom doorway and watched Marina for a moment more before I quietly made my way downstairs.

I didnt realize I was hungry, until I found myself in the kitchen. I looked around at the cabinets and thought about randomly searching, but decided against rummaging through her kitchen; instead, I checked the time, found my cell phone and called my favorite Thai place.

The address for delivery..Oh..Umlet me get that. I stumbled. It hadnt occurred to me that I had no idea what her address was. I franticly looked around the living room as if the house address would magically materialize on one of the walls if I stood their waiting long enough. Suddenly, I knew where to find the address and I dashed to the front door. Okay, just a moment. Im getting the street address. Standing on the front porch, I couldnt believe it. Marina didnt have her house number anywhere on the front of her house. Just a second. Im getting it. I scanned the entire door way and then jogged out to the curb to see if maybe this was one of those neighborhoods that painted the house numbers on the curb in front of the house. No luck. Sir, Ill call you right back with the delivery address. I said as I hung up. I stood in the driveway for a moment and contemplated waking Marina up, but decided to try one more thing.

By the time Id jogged down to both sets of adjoining neighbors houses to see if I could figure out Marinas street address based on those of her neighbors, and then called back the restaurant to confirm the order and give them the delivery address I noticed that the light was now on in Marinas bedroom window. Marina was up. *****, I thought to myself as I made my way back to the house, I should have just waited for her and saved myself this little crazy-girl trip up and down the block.

As I opened the door and stepped inside, I heard Marina calling my name.

Hi, sleepy head. I called from the doorway. As I came into the living room I saw Marina, standing behind the kitchen island with a glass of wine. She wore only a silk robe and her hair was wild about her still sleepy face.

What are you doing, Freddie? I woke up and you were gone. She paused briefly and looked down at the counter before returning her eyes to mine and adding softly, I thought you pulled another disappearing act on me.

The emotion in her final words touched me and I wanted to wrap her in my arms and cover her face with kisses, but instead I grinned and said, No, silly. I thought you might be hungry so I ordered some dinner. But, then I realized I didnt know your address for the delivery; so I went out front to see if I could find it on the house. I paused and put on a serious face and narrowed my eyes. Do you know how dangerous it is NOT to have your house numbers on the front of your house so that they can be plainly seen from the street? I wagged my finger in mock sternness. Do you not watch those emergency shows on TV? This can save your life. If the emergency workers cant find your house, they cant help you. I chastised.

I stood with my hands on my hips waiting for her to defend herself, though I knew she couldnt. Well, what do you have to say for yourself, little girl? I asked in my best authority-mocking voice.

Marina came around the counter, smirking as she grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the front door. Once in the front yard, she gestured to the large numbers running across the upper right hand corner of the house.

I looked at her, scowling. Humph. Those werent there 10 minutes ago. I muttered as I walked back towards the house. I could hear Marinas suppressed laughter as she followed me.

You were saying something about dinner? She said as we came back inside.

I hope you like Thai. I grumbled, still feeling a bit stupid over the now-you-see-them-now-you-dont house numbers.

Mmmm. Sounds good. She said. Let me go get dressed. Ill be back down in a moment.

No! I cried. Marinas eyes were wide and questioning at my sudden exclamation and I continued in a quiet, shy voice, You look perfect just like you are. The robe has a tendency to fall open. I said with a grin and let my eyes slip down from her face; indeed, I caught a glimpse of her small ***** before she reached up and pulled the robe closed. I returned my gaze to her face and saw the smile playing there. I like that robe. I said grinning.

Marina took my hand and let me to the sofa. I sat next to Marina and she slipped her long arm around my shoulder and pulled me so that I was turned slightly with my back pressed into her side. I leaned my head back onto her shoulder and relaxed into her. Her arm wrapped around me and she slipped her hand under the collar of my shirt to caress my bare shoulder.

Marina, who took the picture of you at the Eiffel tower? I said gesturing to the photo Id seen earlier on the shelf.

I felt Marina turn her head in the direction of the picture. There was a long pause before she answered, Francesca.

Im sorry, I shouldnt have asked. I said suddenly feeling like a snoop.

No. It was a fabulous summer. Her voice trailed off.

I wondered how the horrid woman Id heard about from the others could have had anything to do with the happiness that was captured in the photo.

As if reading my mind, Marina continued, It was the year we met. Marinas voice was far away, as if she was talking more to herself than to me. Francesca was not like any woman Id ever known. She was mature and sophisticated. She was educated and well traveled. She was beautiful and *****. Marina sighed. It was the best summer of my life. It was the first time Id ever fallen in love.

Was she your first? I asked timidly, afraid of prying.

No. She said with bitter laugh. I was young, but hardly innocent when I met Francesca. But it was

The door bell cut her off.

Oh, saved by the bell. I teased as I rose from the sofa to get our dinner.

When I came back with the food, Marina had lit some candles on the dinning room table and was carrying the plates and wine from the kitchen.

I joined her at the table. And we greedily dug into the containers.

Freddie, do you read much? Marina asked.

I looked up at her, surprised by her random question. Yes, I do, in fact. I like to read. I replied.

Marina rested her fork on her plate and studied me before speaking. What do you like to read?

Hmm. I stopped to think for a moment. A little of this and a little of that, but nothing youd know, probably.

Try me. she quipped.

I put down my fork and returned the challenge in her gaze. Okay. Steven J. Gould. Richard Dawkins.Frans De Waal. Marinas face was blank. I laughed before I continued. Okay, these you might know. I also like Preston and Child. Jaye Maiman. Penny Hays. Ralph Moody. Shel Silverstein. I paused again, waiting for some recognition from Marina.

I think you are making those names up. Ive never heard of any of them. She said skeptically. But, go on.

Hmm. What else? Oh, youll know this one. Michael Crichton. Im rather ashamed to say, that he is one of my favorites. And, I may as well put this out there. I am also a Harry Potter fan.

Michael CrichtonJurassic Park, right? she asked.

Yeah. I enjoy science fiction. Not the fantasy, outer space stuff, but the fiction spun out of actual science. I guess youd call them science-thrillers? The Andromeda Strain is really good. So is Timeline. The problem with Michael Crichton is that all of his stuff is made into rather poor movies, and people think they know his work from those. I paused for moment thinking about my favorite books. Even better than Crichton, I like Preston and Child. Relic is classic science-thriller. In my opinion, though, their best book is Thunderhead. It weaves a fiction out of the archeological history of the Anasazi Indians and their black-on-yellow micaceous pottery. But my favorite, favorite stuff is the natural history/evolution stuff. Dawkins and Gould. They take an incredibly complicated concept and reduce it to its barest form so that people can really grasp it. Take the Blind Watch Maker. In that book, Dawkins tackles the question of how Darwins theory of evolution could possibly account for the vast diversity and complexity of life on the planet. He uses the analogy of I stopped as I finally noticed Marinas somewhat glassed over eyes. Not your style, huh? I laughed.

Marina looked down at her plate, seemingly embarrassed that Id noticed her lack of interest. After a moment, she looked back up at me as she spoke, Im sorry. I was noticing how your eyes sparkled with excitement as you spoke. I lost myself in them for a moment, and forgot about what you were saying.

I felt the blood rush into my cheeks, and immediately turned my face to stare down at my plate. Well, I m just a huge geek at heart. I mumbled in my own embarrassment.

I reached for my wine glass, but found it empty. We both reached for the bottle but it was also dry. Marina collected the empty bottle as she stood up saying I have another. I nodded my head and said, Thank You as she moved toward the kitchen.

Marina walked around to my side of the table and as she reached to refill my glass, the robe that I was beginning to love dropped open. I breathed in the scent of her before I slid my arms around her waist and sucked an exposed nipple into my mouth. The nipple hardened instantly as I slowly circled it with my tongue. Marina almost dropped the bottle on the table in her surprise. Her hand came to my head and she wove her long fingers in my hair as she pulled my face into her chest. I heard the small moan as I ran my hands up her leg to rest on her firm, bare *****. I released her nipple and looked up at her. Her eyes were closed and she held her lower lip in her teeth.

Marina. If I dont leave now, Im afraid I wont leave at all. I said quietly.

Marina pulled me up from the chair and kissed her way up my neck. I couldn’t stop the moan of pleasure as the chill swept through me.

I dont recall asking you to leave. She breathed as she nipped at my earlobe.