Second Chances

Chapter 3

We slept together. I groaned in my pillow and gosh, but we slept together. I am so ashamed of myself. I repeated to myself, again and again, we slept together. More like jump on each other I thought bitterly. Why did I jump his bones? He kissed me goodnight and what a kiss it was...I clang to him like an eel would do on his prey. Like an ivy plant on a brick house. Like...Oh my gosh why did I have sex with him? I regret doing it alright little voice in my head I am lying to you I admit I don't regret a thing about doing it but what now? Where does that leave me? What attitude should I have with him? Are we a couple? Wow! Stop! I am thinking too quickly way too quickly. It's the same as a one-night stand as Enrique Iglesias would sing. Or is it really? I peeked at my bedroom electronic clock, and it would be time for me to wake up and get dressed in twenty-five minutes. The curtains were pulled, and the sun rays haven't made an appearance yet. The air was cool and smelled of aftershave mixed with man's cologne.

My mind tried to focus as I mentally made a recap of yesterday's dinner. We left the pub at eleven something. But he wanted to dance first, and I never dance slow with anyone. Yeah, that is shocking because how could I not dance during my brother's wedding. I hid near the bar and nursed a drink while I watched everyone on the dance floor. Lucas knew my aversion to dancing and I warned him seriously about not bringing me on the dance floor. I categorically refused to be a ridicule of myself. The grooms' maids were gorgeous and there were two of them both good friends of my brother, but they told me to keep slow for each one of them. I crudely told them I was engaged to be married and my fiancé was somewhere watching me. I whispered to them that he was in the army and had spies everywhere. They fell for that immediately and once or twice I would notice them darting their eyes here and there as if someone might indeed be watching. Gorgeous but gullible. God can't be generous to everyone eh?

However, when Cooper stood up and that Ray Charles voice began to play he took my arm and urged me on the floor. Not a word and with just the look on his face I was a goner. My own voice caught in my throat, and I was stuck with his left hand sprayed in the small of my back and his right hand grabbed my left one. For a minute I was drawn to stare at him with the other hand dangling by my side. How can he do that? I thought to myself. How can he turn me into something fragile and vulnerable? How can I feel as stupid as to let my hand dangle by my side? My mind was filled with air. I felt dizzy and drowsy. My ears were buzzing and all I heard was my heart thudding against my chest. This is nothing I said this is pure lust and desire for a man. Normal reactions when two people who are apparently attracted to each other meet. Nothing more just pure chemical reactions. I know nothing of chemistry for I was an art student back in college. Ironic.

I continued to stare at him and wishing for my voice to come when I noticed his little smile by the corner of the mouth as he bent his head to my ear and whispered, "You're supposed to put the other hand on my shoulder and let the music and your partner guide you."

I gulped heavily and shut my gaping mouth. I cursed myself for the tiny voice I could produce, "Yeah." And I did what I was told without balking. I wanted so much to run away from the dance floor, but my eyes remained on his face as he moved slowly on his feet taking me with him to his world of mystery and sensuality that I felt when I met him the second time in the Captain's office.

As he guided me to the rhythm of the music I realized that I did not feel ridiculous or awkward. I did not step onto his foot, and I was rather doing pretty well. I compared the other dancers to us, and I thought that he was holding me a bit too close for my own good. The young couples were groping each other, and I missed the days when I was in my early twenties fresh from school and avid for new experiences. With Cooper, I forgot why I hated dancing. I looked at him and said, "I usually hate dancing."

Cooper was watching the play of emotions on her face, and he was delighted to be able to touch her and have her close to him. She was timber in his arms, but she didn't seem to notice anything or the fact that she was squeezing his fingers too much. She kept glancing at the other people around. Her eyes were stunned, and he had this itchiness to kiss her pouted mouth. Instead, he murmured, "You do?"