Rocky and Delilah

Chapter 6

Delilah

The car ride home from the ice cream parlor was, to say the least, an emotional one.

I was a mess. Although I had stopped crying, which I considered a win, I couldn't stop replaying Rocky's intimate words in my head. It made me so happy that our feelings were mutual. And I knew he didn't want to get married tomorrow or anything, but it was the thought of him seeing me that way that made me feel all gooey inside.

So after what felt like a short car ride, Rocky parked the SUV in the driveway of my house.

He got out of the car and walked over to my side, opening my door for me. I picked up my heels that I discarded on the floorboard, but when I made a move to stand up, Rocky took my foot in a very gentle hold. He bent down on his haunches right in front of me, placing my foot back in my shoe, and even buckled the band back around my ankle. He gave my other foot the same treatment, and took my hand, helping me stand from the seat of the car.

"Next friday," He began, not letting go of my hand, "I have a meeting at Blues."

Blues was one of the nightclubs that I knew laundered money for families. I had never been before, but my father occasionally had business there, so I knew what it was.

"Okay?" I laughed, and he was staring intently at my face, waiting for me to respond.

"You want me to go with you." I clarified, moving my hand up to finger one of the buttons on his shirt. I was getting better at reading between the lines and using my context clues to guess what Rocky was nonverbally telling me. I thought his quietness would make me irritated with him, but the more time I spent with him, the more I didn't really mind. It was like when he finally did speak, he gathered the attention of everyone around.

It was almost calming in a way, if that even made sense.

"Mhm." He confirmed, rubbing the pad of his thumb over the back of my hand that was fiddling with his shirt.

"I'd love to." I told him, and watched as he reached in his back pocket. I was confused for a moment as he pulled out his wallet, but then he handed me a heavy credit card, "Here."

"What's this for?" I asked.

"A dress." He told me, and I cracked a goading smile, "Oh, you don't like the dresses I wear now?" I teased, and he squeezed my hand, "You deserve something nice."

Look at him, once again being a little softie.

"You don't have too. I do have things to wear, y'know." I reminded him, and he started to get grouchy, so I took the card and did something that surprised him. I leaned up and planted a little kiss on his cheek. But once I pulled away and I saw his unreadable face, I realized that I didn't ask him if I was able to do that, and I felt terrible. Who was I to give a non-consensual kiss?

But Rocky didn't hesitate to bring his hand up, gently connecting it to my face as pulled me closer. He ran his lips against mine, teasing me slightly. After a second, he spoke up, "This okay?" He asked, and my pulse thrashed in my throat. I felt like I started something I couldn't finish.

I tilted my head up and connected our eyes, and his nose ran along mine. I swallowed thickly, and spoke softly, "I've never kissed anyone before." I admitted, and felt as his lips turned up at my words.

"Good girl."

He used his strong hand to pull my mouth to his, and gave me a sweet kiss. It didn't last very long, but I couldn't help the smile that formed after he gave me a chaste second and third one after he had already pulled away. I felt his lip curve up against mine, "Tastes like peanut butter." He informed me, and I laughed, "I'm sure I do. I just drank thirty ounces of it." I giggled.