In this life

Chapter 4

My flat was about five minutes by taxi from the town centre, or a fifteen minute walk if you took the shortcuts. We had decided to walk and had been making general chit chat as we strolled along. We were about half way when a thought popped into my head.
     "I don't want this to be a stupid question... But do you know where my flat is? I mean, I know you know the address, but, do you know where it is?"
     "Yes"
     "Oh, okay... How...?"
     "Does it bother you that I know?" He put his hands in his pockets and looked at the floor a few yards in front of his feet.
     "Well..... Yes. And no."
     "Yes and no" he repeated slowly.
     "Yes, because actually I have no idea who you are, how you know me, how you know where I live, where my parents live...?" I paused, waiting for him to answer, maybe for him to explain.
     "And no because....?" He looked sideways at me, giving me his full attention.
     "No because, weirdly I feel safe with you I guess?" I shrugged.
     He looked back at the ground, raised his eyebrows but didn't smile. I was confused as I thought that would be a nice thing for him to hear.
     He seemed distracted.
     We turned a corner to follow a narrow footpath, edged either side by tall bushes and trees. There were no streetlights for a while so we only had the moonlight to help us see. I slowed slightly minding my footing as I was wearing heals.
     As the path narrowed further still Daniel stepped aside. With one hand behind his back he held the other out, gesturing for me to go first. He bowed his head like a gentleman as I feigned a courtesy, pretended to pick up my invisible dress and passed him. He laughed and followed a few paces behind me.
     I could feel his eyes on me.
     Out of nowhere a prickly feeling rose up my spine, causing me to shiver. The situation I was in gradually dawning on me. I was walking home half drunk, in the dark, away from the main road, away from other people, no body knew where I was. No-one except Daniel. Daniel whom I knew nothing about. Daniel who could easily overpower me......There was no way I could out run him if I had to. Suddenly I was afraid, angry at my own stupidity for getting myself into this situation. I stopped in my tracks.
     "Rosie? Are you okay?"
     "No" I managed a whisper.
     "What's wrong?"
     I didn't answer.
     "Rosie?" He stepped in front of me to see my face. I stared at him, fear in my eyes. He paused, frowning.
     "Come" he said with a smile, realising my fears "I'm not going to hurt you" he gave me a sympathetic look, held out his hand and gestured his head for me to follow him. I stood still.
     "I promise!" He reached for my hand. This time I took it.
     We walked in silence. Hand in hand.
     As the path widen again and streetlights came into view up ahead I began to relax a little. Daniel looked at me gently "See?"
     I offered a small, slightly embarrassed smile.
     "You okay now?"
     I nodded.
     As we were stepping into the dim orange light at the corner of my road Daniel reached his arm around my shoulders. He was warm, I liked feeling him close to me. We approached my block of flats so I rummaged my bag for my keys and held the fob up to open the security doors.
     This time it was his turn to stand routed to the ground as I crossed the threshold.
     "Are you coming in...?" I asked, assuming that was the whole point.
     "Do you want me to?"
     "Do you want to?"
     "Yes"
     "Good" I turned and opened the door. He was still there, stuck to the spot.
     "Invite me in"
     "What? I thought I just did?" I giggled.
     "Ask me in" his face was serious.
     "Please will you come in?"
     Slowly he inhaled and followed me inside.
     My flat was on the third floor. We walked up the stairs in silence. Once I'd unlocked my front door I playfully mocked his earlier actions and, like a gentleman, I gestured my hand for him to go first.
     He smiled at me but instead of walking passed me he walked right up close to me and kissed my forehead.
     "After you" he said.
     Closing my front door behind us I lent against the wall and took my shoes off. "That's better" I said with an exaggerated sigh. "Would you like a drink?"
     "Please. What do you have?"
     "Actually I've got no idea, depends if Ronnie's drunk me dry.... Let's have a look" I walked to the kitchen and he followed behind me. I decided to flick the light on from the extractor fan above the hob, rather than the main light. Fluorescent lights were a mood killer at the best of times. I started searching my cupboards for anything alcoholic.
     Daniel spied my roses and walked over to feel one of the petals between his thumb and forefingers. I smiled as I watched him.
     "Thank you again, those are lovely"
     "You're welcome"
     I found a bottle of red wine in the back of the cupboard and half a bottle of Baileys. I pulled them both out and held them up on offer for Daniel to choose. He sauntered over to me, took the red wine out of my hand and gestured for a bottle opener. I pointed to the drawer beside him and put the Baileys back. I heard the cork pop as I reached two large wine glasses down from the top cupboard and placed them on the kitchen counter in front of him. He half filled each glass and handed me mine.
     "Thanks"
     Placing the bottle down he picked up his glass and offered it to mine, we chinked and each took a sip.
     "That's better" Daniel said leaning backwards on the counter top.
     "What is?"
     "You're smiling again"
     I hadn't realised, but I was. I bit my lip and looked down at the floor, suddenly self conscious.
     "I'm sorry if I made you feel uneasy earlier. I'd never hurt you. I hope you believe that"
     "I'm starting to" I shyly looked up "...unless of course you're luring me into a false sense of security and you're waiting for the perfect opportunity to devour me for your own evil pleasure!" I teased.
     He raised his eyebrows "If only" he put his glass down and came over to me. "Maybe you shouldn't tempt me" he moved a stray piece of hair away from my face and ran his thumb from my chin, across my jawbone, down my neck and stopped on the soft fleshy bit above my collarbone. I could feel my own pulse against his firm but gentle pressure. His eyes were fixed on mine, they were dark and seductive.
     I placed my glass down without looking away. Wanting him to make a move on me.
     Waiting.
     Nothing happened.
     I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed.
     "So" I started, deciding I'd try breaking the tension by finding something, anything out about this man. "Do you live near here?"
     "Quite near"
     I looked at him imploring him to continue. He took the hint and casually lent back against the counter again.
     "I live near the river, where the old bridge crosses over"
     "Oh okay. Nice houses around there. Maybe I could come and visit you one day"
     "I'd like that"
     "You're not a big talker are you? You've got this dark mysterious thing going on, is that a conscious effort?"
     He laughed a little "No" he stood casually with one arm loosely folded across his chest, his hand resting in the elbow of his other arm, holding his glass.
     I jumped up on to the kitchen side opposite him and took a sip of my wine.
     "So how do you know me?"
     Upon asking my latest question he tilted his head upwards, slightly to the side, raised one eyebrow and gave me a little smile while biting his bottom lip.
     "Is this question time?"
     "Yep" I played "Why don't you give any actual answers?"
     "Where's the fun in that?"
     "Hmm" I raised one eyebrow back at him. "So tell me something about you. You seem to know a lot about me, and won't tell me how! So it's only fair"
     "What would you like to know?"
     I thought for a moment.... "What's your favourite colour?"
     "Purple"
     "What's your favourite food?"
     "Steak"
     "Ah cool, I work at The Steakhouse, you'll have to come in there and I'll get the Chef to cook you something delicious"
     "Deal"
     "How old are you?"
     "A hundred and twenty-seven"
     I laughed out loud, "Well you look good for it!"
     "Thank you" he nodded his appreciation.
     "Okay...... What's your favourite song?"
     He whistled inwards and blew it out. "Tricky one. I'd say it depends on the moment"
     "Would you like some music on now?"
     "Would you?"
     "As long as it's nothing too bouncy, my feet are aching" I jumped down from the kitchen side and walked to the living room to turn on my stereo, "Come and help me choose"
     He casually walked over and stood behind me looking at my CD's. He pulled out a dodgy looking 80's party anthem compilation and made a face, mocking me.
     I snatched it off him and shoved it back in the drawer "I don't know how that got in there, it must be Ronnie's" I joked giving him a sideways glance making it obvious it was in fact mine. He laughed quietly. I went back to searching through my collection.
     "What about this...?" He reached around me and pulled out a CD, I didn't see which one. He clicked some buttons of my stereo and slid the disc in, pushing play.
     An electric guitar started softly with its slow, high pitched whine to begin Bon Jovi's 'Bed of Roses'. Daniel was standing really close behind me, I could feel his soft breath on my ear. I liked the closeness. I gently leaned into his body resting my head backwards on his shoulder.
     "In this moment...." he spoke softly, running his fingers down my arm "this is my favourite song" answering my earlier question.
     "In this moment, this is my favourite song too" I whispered, closing my eyes listening to the words as they started to fill the room. Daniel rested his chin against the side of my face and loosely wrapped his arms around me. Swaying and singing softly in my ear. His voice was amazing it made the hairs on my arms stand up and gave me goose bumps.
     As the song reached the chorus Daniel turned me round to face him, rested my head on his chest, held my hand, brushing my knuckles with his thumb and pulled my body in close. Before I knew it we were slow dancing in the centre of my living room. Daniel carried on singing like the words were his own. There was no one else in the whole world. Just the two of us.
     Who was this man that came out of nowhere utterly sweeping me off of my feet? Maybe he really was my Disney Prince Charming......