UNDER CONSTRUCTION, CHAPTER 14

 

          Over the next couple of weeks, Adam and Charlie were together for at least some time each day. Sometimes they met up for coffee in the morning or afternoon and shared stories about their lives before they’d met. Other days, they had dinner together, usually at Adam’s house or in a restaurant because Charlie didn’t cook. She did make her curried chicken and broccoli and Adam did like it, but unless they wanted sandwiches or snacks for dinner, it was take-out, eat-out or Adam cooked.

During all this time, their physical relationship wasn’t moving forward. There was hand-holding, kisses and hugs, but that was it. Charlie thought it was a bit like being in high school where a relationship had been identified by baseball terminology. So far Adam hadn’t even tried to get to second base and seemed content to hold at first. Charlie had never been so sexually frustrated in her life and wondered if Adam did what she did for relief. Her wonderful toy was seeing almost nightly use these days.

Charlie decided she really needed to talk to someone about this relationship, so she called her best friend Sandi and proposed they get together for lunch or dinner or just drinks. She didn’t care. She needed to talk and she needed advice.  Sandi was available for dinner the following day and Charlie hoped Adam was just a bit disappointed when she told him she was eating out with a friend. She couldn’t tell though since Adam dropped a peck on her forehead and told her he’d make something special for dinner the day after if she wanted to come by.

The women decided they’d have dinner at Sophia’s not because it was expensive and good, but because of the huge booths that allowed pretty much total privacy so they could talk, laugh and cry without being overheard. Settled into the comfy banquettes, they ordered drinks and a couple of starters and told their waitress they’d not be ordering for some time. That was the other thing about Sophia’s…the staff was always patient and as long as you tipped well when you left, you could come for dinner and practically stay for breakfast.

“So, Charlie,” Sandi said after taking a sip of her Cosmo, “What’s going on. You sounded a bit sad and plaintive when you called.”

“You’ve known me since we were in diapers, right?” Charlie responded and Sandi nodded, helping herself to the small brie baked in filo dough. “You’ve also always known I go after what I want and I’ve always achieved the goal set whether it had to do with my business or my personal life. I’ve dated a lot and had probably more than my share of sexual experiences with a wide variety of men.”

“Oh. My. God.” Sandi laughed after she’d swallowed. “You were a very naughty girl in school and I envied your ability to do what you wanted and get away with it. I was sure if I let one of those boys have their way, I’d end up pregnant and shamed for the rest of my life. But you, you just went your merry way and never got caught.”

“Are you kidding me. What about the time my folks came home early and I had to hide Brian Sutherland beneath my bed? I couldn’t think of a reason why I was in bed and all flushed except for feeling sick. I thought my mamma would never stop fussing over me and go away. Then Brian had to climb out my window and almost fell and broke his leg.”

Both women laughed and Sandi added, “Poor Brian, he limped around for a couple of weeks with a bad sprain. Good thing it wasn’t football or basketball season or he’d have had to sit on the sidelines.”

Charlie swallowed the last of her drink and signaled for another. “Ah such good times I had, right Sandi?” she asked wistfully. “But maybe I should have been more like you. Maybe I should have saved myself for a husband and kids. Look at you and Les, married since you graduated college with two lovely children.”

“What’s going on here Charlie? This isn’t like you. You’ve always been eager to go ahead and see what would happen. I never thought you had regrets about  any of the relationships or experiences you’ve had. What’s made you have doubts about yourself or at least that seems to be what I’m getting from you.”

Charlie waited until the waitress put her drink on the table. “Okay, you remember months ago I came into the shop looking for books by that Foster author?”

“Do I? Les would probably remember as well because I read each and every one of them too. He thought he'd died and gone to heaven and  I’m lucky I didn’t end up pregnant.”

“Okay, I think I told you then that whenever Adam was around or we touched, even if it was just our hands, that every hair on my body stood at attention. There was or is this electricity between the two of us. Adam has admitted as much.”

“So, what’s the problem if you both feel the sizzle? Are you seeing this Adam?”

“Yes. I did what I’ve always done and tried very hard to get Adam to go to bed with me. I pretty much put myself out there, expecting he would reciprocate….”

“You can’t be saying he turned your down?” Sandi interrupted.

“Well, yes and no. He sort of told me off about being so forward and then kinda told me his expectations with regard to us having a relationship. I want the sex now and he doesn’t.”

          “He doesn’t? He writes all those erotic passages in his books. I’d think he’d be more eager than you. I’d also think he’d be one hell of a lover and more than willing to share his prowess.”

“I guess that’s why they call it fiction, Sandi. When he told me what he wants, the first item mentioned was not sex. He wants to get to know me and for me to know him. He wants to hear all about my growing up, my interests, my past and future desires and he wants to share all of his own past and future with me as well.”

“Doesn’t sound too difficult. So, are you seeing him? Are you sharing with him and he with you?”

“Yes, we’ve been together almost every day for the last couple of weeks. He’s a fabulous cook, so he’s made most of the dinners unless we go out or bring food in. We talk and talk and talk and there’s usually some time toward the end of the evening when we cuddle and kiss and, to use an old high school word, pet a bit.”

“He hasn’t tried to rip your clothes off? You haven’t had sex yet?”

Charlie looked down at the table and shook her head.

“Holy Fuck, but I never thought I’d ever hear something like that from you Charlie. What’s holding him back? Is he gay and not sharing that information?”

“Oh no, he’s not gay, far from it. I’ve had the uncomfortable pleasure of feeling a gigantic penis pressed against my belly or thigh, but Adam hasn’t even gone so far as to touch a bare breast. Lots of kissing and nibbling and heavy breathing, but nothing skin to skin beyond lips on my face and neck.”

“What happens? I mean, does he just push you away and act as though nothing’s happening? If Les tried that with me, I’d find a way to tie him to the bed and have my way.”

“Adam doesn’t exactly push me away, but he seems to reach a point and then it’s time for the evening to end. He walks me to my house or car or whatever, but he doesn’t suggest I stay over or he stay over. It’s just kinda see you tomorrow, followed by a soul-searing kiss and then he walks away.”

Sandi drained her glass and waved it at the waitress. “Good heavens, I can’t believe he has the self-control to do that. Sheesh, what is his problem?”

“I honestly don’t know. I’ve been trying to be patient, to let Adam lead the way, but he’s driving me crazy and my personal toy is getting one hell of a workout every single night. I don’t know what to do to make him try for a home-run.”
          “Okay, he said he wanted you guys to get to know each other. Is that happening? Is he sharing his past life and what he wants from the future with you? Are you sharing the same with him?”

“Yes, yes, yes. We talk and talk and talk and some times I feel as if I’ll scream if I have to come up with another endearing and funny story about my childhood. I’ve heard lots of stories about his life and what he wants going forward. He wants a wife and kids, quite possibly six which scares the absolute crap out of me. He wants to enlarge his cabin and live there with his family. He wants to keep writing but would like to try another venue that doesn’t include a whole lot of sex.”

“Okay, and what have you said about what you want from the future?”

“That’s just it. I haven’t said a lot beyond wanting the company to grow and expand and end up building only environmentally sound projects. I haven’t talked about wanting to be married or having kids because I honestly don’t know if I do.”

“What about the sizzle? Now that you’ve gotten to know each other better, is it still there? Is it stronger now or weaker?”

“That’s the biggest problem for me. As far as I go, the sizzle isn’t just a sizzle any longer; it’s become a raging fire. I can’t tell if it’s changed for Adam because he’s so reticent. I’m trying to be patient. I’m trying to let him be the aggressor, but there’s nothing I want more at this point than to have mad, wild, passionate sex with Adam. I don’t know what to do.”

“Have you tried talking to Adam about how you feel? Maybe if he knew just how much you wanted to jump his bones, he’d be more forthcoming with his affections?”

“That’s how we ended up where we are. I made it perfectly clear I was ready, more than willing, and able to consummate our relationship even though we barely knew each other. He wasn’t. He’s like some virgin who has to get to know his partner before getting laid. Fuck, but it’s really really annoying.”

“Well, maybe you need to revisit his idea about your relationship. It seems like he’s having it all his way and your wants and needs aren’t being considered one little teeny weeny bit. I actually can’t believe you’ve gone along with this. It’s so not you Charlie girl.”

“Yeah, well, it’s just that there’s this voltage between us and I really want to see what happens if we ever come together. If sex has been good before, sex with Adam ought to be mind-bending. If it weren’t for the feelings I get every time we’re together, I’d just walk away.”

          “I think you should talk to Adam and tell him how you feel. If he isn’t interested, then you can give it up and move on. Now, I’m beginning to really feel the booze, so how about ordering some dinner?”

          Charlie and Sandi consulted the menus and ordered. By unacknowledged agreement, they didn’t spend any more time talking about Adam. It was Sandi’s turn to talk about Les and her kids and her bookstore. Charlie listened and asked questions. Once their food arrived, they continued to talk between bites and since Sandi saw far more of the people they both knew because of her bookstore, she kept Charlie laughing when it came to a couple of teachers they’d both had and a few girlfriends and their husbands or significant others.

          As they were settling up their bills, Charlie said, “You know we really are quite catty when it comes to some of the people we know.”

          Sandi laughed and agreed, saying, “That may be so, but you have to admit every single thing we said about each one of them was factual, factual, but funnier than hell. Wonder what they have to say about us when they get together.”

          “I know. Don’t you wish you could be a little bug in the corner when Samantha, Gloria and Tiffany all get together? Compared to what we say about them, I’m sure the acid spoken would definitely cause us to become deaf.”

          Outside the restaurant, the women hugged farewell and Sandi started for her car. She turned back to give Charlie another hug and said, “Now, be sure and call or come see me once you talk to Adam. I’ll either celebrate with you or wipe away your tears.

          Charlie agreed and got into her truck. She wasn’t going to go by Adam’s on the way home. She’d wanted to think about what Sandi had said as well as how she was going to approach Adam about their relationship. She didn’t exactly want to say give me sex or go away, but she didn’t want continue the dance Adam had been leading for the last little while. If it were anyone but Adam, she thought, she’d probably tell him to fuck me or else. But, there was something sweet about Adam and his approach to their relationship, so she was going to have to find a way to ask nice and politely. Damnit, if I only didn’t think I was falling in love with him, but I just may be. As she pulled into her parking place beside her house, she shrugged her shoulders and told herself that tomorrow was a new day and at its end, she’d know if time with Adam would continue.