Strictly Forbidden

Strictly Forbidden (7)

Chapter 7

It has been a week now, of staying with Duke. And amazingly enough, things seem somewhat normal. Duke and I settled into a homely manner, me taking care of him, and him taking care of me, financially.

"What time is Sam coming to pick you up?" He asks, while I finish up the dishes.

"I'm not sure, she said anytime after seven. Don't worry; I'll be gone before Natalie gets here." I smile. Natalie, Duke's girlfriend, with a world of experience - in every meaning of the word, is an astonishing splendor.

"You know I didn't mean it that way."

"Sure, sure... Here, you dry this, please." I hand him a plate. Duke, although very manly, could do all the feminine things and still seem every bit of the man he is.

"So, where is it the two of you are going?" He asks causally.

"I wish I knew..." I shrug. Knowing Samantha, we will be dancing the night away in a crowded room with not enough breathing space. Oh, Lord do I really want to go out?

"Well, are you going dressed like that?" His snicker, I hardly notice. Glancing down at my calf length mint green skirt and soft short sleeve shirt to match, I'm not sure what he means.

"What's wrong with the way I'm dressed?" All my life, every step of the way, father always told me it's important the way you dress. I have taken great pride in being well dressed. Maybe not in the latest name brands or the designer names of the day. I just dress simple, to the point.

"I, for one, like the way you dress," he says, amusement thick in his smooth voice, "but Sam, she is expects more from you."

"Sam can get over it..." I am not even able to convey a since of strength in that statement. Sam has a way with changing my mind, about almost anything.

Sam has always been more flamboyant that I, with her sleek brown hair and curvaceous body. It's easy for her to pull off any look. Her life is full of short dresses, showy shirts, and boys one after the other.

"I'm sure you will let her." His wink causes me to giggle as I hand him another plate to dry.

"Well, what else do I have? All my clothes are the same! I don't even own a dress that comes above my knees. Father would never let me get one. I remember a dress that I wanted one time. It was fire red and it had no straps, and it clung to me nice enough. Making me feel beautiful... It was breathtaking. He told me that red was an unacceptable color for a young lady to wear. It made me think, really he was right. It was wrong for me to want such a dress. I was only fifteen at the time. I settled for a nice pink dress instead."

"I don't understand..." What can he possible not understand? Red is a satanic color, for goodness sakes.

"What do you not understand?"

His smirk stretches across his face, reminding me that he is as much a boy as a man. No matter how long he has lived on his own he is still a child at heart.

"You have red hair..." His shoulders shake in an unheard chuckle. What a kidder he is. Although I roll my eyes, I find myself laughing along with him.

"I guess that is why father never has trusted me. Red is the color of Satan."

"Well, I think that Satan looks good on you." My heated face didn't go unnoticed. "See, it's flattering on you."

"Yeah, yeah, why don't you go get ready for your date." I push him away, his chuckles floating through the hallway.

|~|~|~|

"So, how is living with Duke?" Sam asks, filling her mouth with grilled shrimp.

"Surprisingly fun and easy. We get along so well. I don't even have to try and stay out of the way. And he asks me what I want. That's something new to me. He even feels bad for kicking me out to spend time with his girlfriend. Although, I don't believe he would ever say that out loud. He even buys the expensive food, saying that if it tastes better, then it is worth it. I thought I would miss my parents and home... but, I love being able to do what I want."

Her bright eyes flush with amusement, "Well, I see the two of you are getting along extraordinarily!" She winks. "Now, give me all the dirty details. Has he kissed you yet?"

Appalled is the correct word to use in this case. "Samantha, you know good and well I have not and have no intention of kissing Duke. First, he has a girlfriendand he is so much older... I don't even want to kiss anyone, anyways. It's just..."

"I know, strictly forbidden. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe you should stop following daddies ways? I mean, you don't live with him anymore. And you have pierced your nipples... I think that is rebellious enough. Kissing is nothing now." The ever known red splatters my face.

"Quiet, someone may hear you!" With a shake of her head, reminding me so much of a giddy child, she lets out a fabulous laugh. Every person in the area around us turns to find the laughing lunatic.

"Now," she takes a deep breath, "You are telling me that nothing has happened?"

If God could have made someone blush uncontrollably, it is this girl right here - me. "Oh, I feel a good story coming on!" She sings, popping another grilled shrimp into her mouth.

"Well, I don't really want to talk about it..."

"Come on, I am your best friend!" She just had to pull that card.

"He walked in on me... once." The heat carries up to the tips of my ears, as she gasps.

"He saw you naked?"

"Oh, no, no, no! I was in my towel. I was shaving my legs in the sink." He had looked at me so intensely that night, I nearly passed out from embarrassment. It was the only awkward moment the two of us had together, and I was terrified it would change things. But, he never mentioned it, so I didn't either. One thing is for sure, I always lock the door now.

"That's all? Really, you got me all worked up to tell me that!"

"Not everyone is sex crazed, Sam."

"But he is a man. A very sexy man, with amazing eyes, legs, arms, hair, and I am sure his man parts are ju-"

"Samantha," I cut her off, before she said anything I would regret hearing. And before she drooled on the table. "I don't want to hear what you think about his man parts."

"Whatever, if you don't want him..." She sighs, imagining things I, for one, had never even seen. I shiver in utter horror and disgust.

"If you want him, you can have him. He's not mine, and never will be. Why would he want me when he is with a girl so exotic and blessed?"

Sam gives me a blank look. "You have seen her?"

"Yeah, she is beautiful, never in my life have I seen someone so entrancing."

"And she didn't get angry?" Her bewilderment astonishes me.

"Well, I only caught the last bit of their conversation, but he told her the truth and she left."

"That's amazing..." She trails off, thinking to herself.

"What is?" I drink the rest of my water, ready to go home and sleep. She could shop like no other woman in the world. She could last longer than my mother. Not that I minded, she bought me a red dress.

"Think about it. What kind of man would take in a homeless girl when he has such a sexy goddess of a girlfriend? To her, it probably looks like he may have a thing for you. I would be incredibly angry."

"I've never thought of it that way before..." Was that how it seemed to her?

"I know you wouldn't. You don't understand relationships." That shut me up in a hurry. "Here let's go."

I know it's short! Sorry