cell. It hung over the bed, and the stark decor of the room (all cream, with no burgundy in sight), gave it the sterile feeling of a prison cell, until you realized what the image was, and then it felt like floating on a cloud as you looked through your fork during the perfect summer picnic.
It reminded Emily why she loved art so much – it could provoke such powerful and conflicting emotions.
She undressed slowly as she observed the other photos in the room, taking her time, not just to view the work, but to think about the conflicting feelings she was having about Rob. Should she really just jump right into something, however brief, with a practical stranger, when things were so unsettled with Josh?
On the other hand, she had never felt this visceral a connection to someone in such a short period of time. And while things were not officially over with Josh, she realized now that they had been over in her mind for a while. Otherwise, she knew she could not have kissed Rob tonight without feeling guilty.
Until today, she hadn't even wanted to kiss another man in all the time she had been with Josh. That seemed to speak volumes about the man halfway across the country and the one in the other room, waiting for her to change her mind. She felt like she already knew what she needed to say to them both.
Only one of them would be happy to hear it.
Rob was a big man and Emily swam in his clothes. She had to roll the sweat pants at the waist a couple times so they wouldn't fall off her, and they still sank to her hips. The t-shirt was so long that it fit her like a mini-dress, albeit not one she'd ever wear in public. She had to laugh at the X-Men logo on the shirt. It had seen a lot of real wear, and she thought he must have had it for a long time. He was a closet geek, she realized, and that made Emily like Rob even more.
She'd always had a soft spot for geeks.
She opened the door and walked back into the living room, but didn't see Rob. One of the other doors was closed and she debated whether or not she should see if he was in the bedroom that must be his own. What would she do if he told her to come inside and he was sprawled on the bed naked? Would she run away screaming or would she jump him? Even the thought made her blush.
Just as she hesitated at the door to knock, he opened the door casually and jumped when he saw her there. “Sorry. I, um...”
He laughed. “Were you afraid I was naked in here and weren't sure if you should open the door or not?” When she didn't respond and her mouth dropped open, he said, “Your face, remember. You're very transparent. I like that. It means you'll always have a hard time lying to me. That's another refreshing thing. Usually, I only feel that certain with my family. Almost everyone in my business will tell you what you want to hear if they have to do it. I've got very few friends I can truly trust. Come on. Let's go have that champagne while it's still cold.”
They spent the next hour or so sipping a delicious champagne and talking about the galleries they had seen. Emily told him about her summer in Italy junior year and she was shocked to hear how little he had seen on his travels. Though he had been all over the world, he was so busy when he was away that it was rare for Rob to get a chance to actually see the place where he was staying. He was either on a movie set, attending a film festival, or promoting a project.
Eventually, Emily stifled a yawn and Rob noticed.
“I'm sorry. I don't mean to keep you awake. You must be exhausted,” Rob apologized.
Emily nodded. “I'm still on Eastern time, so it's nearly 2 a.m. for me. I don't usually stay up this late on a work night.”
“Well, let's get you to bed, then.” He stood, hugged her, kissed her sweetly, took her hand and walked her to her room.
“I can't wait to see you in the morning. Any idea what you want for breakfast? Or should I surprise you?” he asked.
She didn't want to leave him and a part of
It reminded Emily why she loved art so much – it could provoke such powerful and conflicting emotions.
She undressed slowly as she observed the other photos in the room, taking her time, not just to view the work, but to think about the conflicting feelings she was having about Rob. Should she really just jump right into something, however brief, with a practical stranger, when things were so unsettled with Josh?
On the other hand, she had never felt this visceral a connection to someone in such a short period of time. And while things were not officially over with Josh, she realized now that they had been over in her mind for a while. Otherwise, she knew she could not have kissed Rob tonight without feeling guilty.
Until today, she hadn't even wanted to kiss another man in all the time she had been with Josh. That seemed to speak volumes about the man halfway across the country and the one in the other room, waiting for her to change her mind. She felt like she already knew what she needed to say to them both.
Only one of them would be happy to hear it.
Rob was a big man and Emily swam in his clothes. She had to roll the sweat pants at the waist a couple times so they wouldn't fall off her, and they still sank to her hips. The t-shirt was so long that it fit her like a mini-dress, albeit not one she'd ever wear in public. She had to laugh at the X-Men logo on the shirt. It had seen a lot of real wear, and she thought he must have had it for a long time. He was a closet geek, she realized, and that made Emily like Rob even more.
She'd always had a soft spot for geeks.
She opened the door and walked back into the living room, but didn't see Rob. One of the other doors was closed and she debated whether or not she should see if he was in the bedroom that must be his own. What would she do if he told her to come inside and he was sprawled on the bed naked? Would she run away screaming or would she jump him? Even the thought made her blush.
Just as she hesitated at the door to knock, he opened the door casually and jumped when he saw her there. “Sorry. I, um...”
He laughed. “Were you afraid I was naked in here and weren't sure if you should open the door or not?” When she didn't respond and her mouth dropped open, he said, “Your face, remember. You're very transparent. I like that. It means you'll always have a hard time lying to me. That's another refreshing thing. Usually, I only feel that certain with my family. Almost everyone in my business will tell you what you want to hear if they have to do it. I've got very few friends I can truly trust. Come on. Let's go have that champagne while it's still cold.”
They spent the next hour or so sipping a delicious champagne and talking about the galleries they had seen. Emily told him about her summer in Italy junior year and she was shocked to hear how little he had seen on his travels. Though he had been all over the world, he was so busy when he was away that it was rare for Rob to get a chance to actually see the place where he was staying. He was either on a movie set, attending a film festival, or promoting a project.
Eventually, Emily stifled a yawn and Rob noticed.
“I'm sorry. I don't mean to keep you awake. You must be exhausted,” Rob apologized.
Emily nodded. “I'm still on Eastern time, so it's nearly 2 a.m. for me. I don't usually stay up this late on a work night.”
“Well, let's get you to bed, then.” He stood, hugged her, kissed her sweetly, took her hand and walked her to her room.
“I can't wait to see you in the morning. Any idea what you want for breakfast? Or should I surprise you?” he asked.
She didn't want to leave him and a part of
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