I Want To Dream Now

Chapter 14 - First Kiss

"I did it. I confronted him."

Robin stares at Charlene. Out of nowhere again, she has appeared. Like a ghost, almost. Her skin is so pale, and the puffy, cream frock she wears doesn't help either. Her warm, rustic brown eyes are the only thing that ever comforts him. It like a nice mug of creamy, hot chocolate. Suddenly, he can feel his stomach growling again.

"Confront who?"

"The guy who gave me this scar."

"Oh," Robin says, raising a brow.

"You seem surprised."

Robin starts laughing, while shaking his head. "I'm not, well, OK I guess I am. A little. Was that not dangerous, Charlene?"

Charlene grimaces. "Probably, but he deserved a piece of mind."

"And," Robin says, trying to understand. "You gave it to him?"

Charlene frowns slightly. "Yes and no. I was going to pour beer all over him. But I never did."

Robin smiles. "Charlene, it's OK to be gentle."

Charlene lets out a huge laugh then, shaking her hands. "No, Robin. I never stopped myself from doing it. Some creepy old man grabbed me from behind, and then the glass fell and smashed on the ground."

"Oh, I see."

"But I told him he was pathetic," Charlene added, then sniffing a laugh. "Oh God, that makes me pretty pathetic."

Robin wraps an arm around her, stroking her hair. She smiles sadly up at him, as if forcing back tears.

"It's OK, Charlene."

"No, Robin. It reaally isn't."

"Hey," he says pulling her in close to his chest. "You're one of the most courageous, brave and strongest people I know."

Charlene smirks then, nudging him in the shoulder. "Those words mean all the same thing."

Robin laughs. "I work in retail, Charlene, not in literature."

Charlene laughs back in response, and then pauses suddenly. She whizzes around to face Robin. Their chests meet, Charlene's slightly lower down. She places her hands on Robin's shoulders and smiles. Robin stares into her eyes, feeling the intensity growing between them. She leans in further, so much that Robin can already smell the sweet raspberries in her breath. He closes his eyes a quick moment, savoring every minute of the scent. Her firm hold on his shoulders brings him back to reality.

He opens back his eyes to find hers are closed. His hands slide off her neck down and down to his sides. He doesn't do anything for a moment. He isn't sure what exactly to do.

Until then he feels Charlene tickle his neck with her light fingers. He can feels his blood pumping mad; his heart racing. Her face is coming nearer so much that their noses touch. Robin closes his eyes, taking a very shaky breath. Their noses brush; three or four strokes. Until then, Charlene drives her lips onto Robin. She kisses him very softly at first, so that their kisses a long and passionate. Robin grabs her then around the hips and pulls her in quicker. He can feel himself growling for more.

He takes a quick breath and then time drives his lips onto her mouth.He kisses her hard, as his hand slides up and down her back. He can feel Charlene's grip tightening around his necks, so that their kisses are at full-force. Robin moans a little, and he sucks onto her lips. He slowly releases his lips from her. They both take a quick breath before leaning in for more. Robin is leading the session completely. Her wraps his arms around her waist, moving slowly forward. He pushes her back into the trunk of a three as he continues kissing her.; on the lips, on the neck, on the collarbone. Charlene grabs his face then, her cool fingertips on his cheeks. She gives him one more, long kiss  on the mouth and pulls away. 

Robin was just getting started.

He leans in for a kiss again, but this time Charlene leans in for a hug. She wraps her arms around his waist, snuggling her head into his chest.

"Thank you," she whispers into his t-shirt.

Robin is still frozen. His arms lie limp by his side. He glances down at Charlene's head. No-where near his lips.

"For what?" 

She giggles lightly then. "Just for being here. For being there for me always."

Robin nods, and whispers back, "No problem."

Although, there is certainly a problem. His heart is still racing mad. 

"I can hear your heart," she tells him.

Robin blushes. "Oh, sorry. Haha."

Charlene snuggles in further. Robin wraps his arms around her then, letting their fingers meet and intertwine. He listens carefully to her gentle breathing. She doesn't seem fazed at all.

"I could feel that, you know."

"Feel what?"

This time Charlene glances up at him with a big smile. "Your excellent kissing of course. It was kind of amazing."

Robin shrugs with a laugh. "I could feel yours too."

"Verdict?"

Robin can feel himself reddening again. "Yeah, all right."

Charlene bursts out in a laugh, and hits him softly on the arm. "Hey!"

Robin smiles back, resting his own head on top of hers. Avocados.

"Robin," she whispers then.

"Yes?"

"I love...the fact that...."

Robin smirks. "You love the fact? What fact?"

Charlene smiles then. "That, you of all people don't have a girlfriend. That's pretty strange."

Robin laughs hesitantly. "That's right," he murmurs. "I don't have a girlfriend."

"And I love the sound of that," she laughs.

Robin laughs too, but very shakily. Suddenly then images of his wife Nina playing play-doh with baby Rhine start flooding is brain, and his stomach knots. Is this cheating?  He draws a deep breath, shutting his eyes aggressively. Only a dream.... 

"You all right, Robin? You've been quite quiet."

Robin responds seconds later. "Yep, better than never."

Charlene beams up at him. "Good. I'm really glad you're here."

"You've said that already."

"I know," she says, along with a timid smile. "I just want you to know how much you mean to me."

Robin is about to say something then, when Charlene presses a finger on his lips. She gives his a peck on the lips and buries her head back in his chest.

Robin does nothing.