Love & Romance ~ A study of Intimacy

Chapter 14

"Huh? Lee? What is it?"

"May I come in?" I stared at the door, wondering what Lee wanted. It was getting late but if he has something important to tell me, then it was better to hear it while it was on his mind rather than wait to tomorrow and pray he remembers. 

"Sure, come on in." Lee opened the door and stepped into the room with my closed laptop in hand. I looked up at him, now concerned that he read over my scene. Shit. 

"Did you read my scene?" Lee nodded, moving and setting down my laptop on top of the drawer. As he turned back around to me, I could see a look of comfort rush across his eyes. His gaze landed on me and I felt myself listening.

"Do you want help?" I stared for a moment, wondering how he would help me. It wouldn't hurt to have help, I didn't want to do anything strange like a kiss or that like. 

"Sure, I appreciate it." I was thankful for his help, He supported me whenever he could and to know that he wanted to help more made me feel that much more special. I walked over to the bed and sat down by the pillows as Lee sat at the foot.

"So, tell me what's up." I rubbed the back of my neck.

"Well, I'm really not sure where to go with the scene. I mean... I know what's going on and what now, but somehow I just can't write it properly. It's like it's missing something." I shook my head and let out a sigh. How embarrassing was that? I was a top writer in romance, but the struggle of sex and passion became almost infuriatingly difficult. Lee, however, nodded his head with a smile.

"Alright. What do you think is missing?" I stared at Lee, confused as to what he meant. If I knew, it would have been easily fixed. Lee chuckled a bit, breaking me from my thoughts.

"Sex isn't just about what the couple is doing. It's about what they are feeling as well. Every touch they place on each other is a different moment of emotion. What's going through their minds? Are they nervous? Are they patient? You know, things like that, despite not being sexual at all, enhance the beauty of passionate contact." My heart fluttered at his words. The more I listened, the more I found myself falling for his charm. The way he understood me was practically fantastical; it was hard to imagine it not being a dream.

Every story I had ever written painted sex as physical contact with a simple action and reaction. That was why they were so robotic. I hadn't given thought to adding feeling and I was interested in sex. I looked down at the mattress, feeling stupid. I could have pulled my own feelings with romance and made the scenes that much more flavorful. I guess I had a lot to learn about writing romance.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"All of this time, I was focused on the sex that I had forgotten about the passion behind it. There was a level of heat that needed to be there... that's why my scenes didn't feel real..." I shook my head and laughed "Wow.. how dumb can I be?" 

All of a sudden, Lee stood up and marched over, wrapping his arms around me and making me gasp in surprise.

"Gu-!! Lee?!"

"Don't say that... You're not dumb." I stared into Lee's shoulder, taking in his scent. I was so lost in surprise that all I could do was listen to his words as they pierced into my mind. 

"You're a brilliant writer and no one can ever beat your skill, no matter how much experience they have or how sexual they may be." My heart pounded deeply in my chest. How was this possible? I felt as close to Lee as could be and my mind began to cloud with thoughts of him. His embrace suddenly made me feel safe and warm, uncaring for the world except for him. Was this the intimacy I was missing? It wasn't sensual or passionate like a kiss, but I could feel the deep meaning behind it. I could practically write pages of his care and concern just from his embrace alone.

My focus concentrated on his heartbeat, hearing it pound in his chest. It was heavy and quick, full of nerves and tapping to a song in his soul. As Lee held on to me, I could feel him shift to look down at me, causing me to look up into his eyes. I was lost within them, but listened to what he asked. 

"Would...would you be opposed to me trying something out?"