Starting Over - Chapter Seven - The Date!

Chapter Seven - The Date

Ellen was there before Jan, lounging against the pillar next to his bike, waiting for him to arrive. She’s spent an age dressing, and hoped the off white dress covered in large scarlet roses and brilliant green leaves was traffic stopping. Almost as if prompted she glanced up to see Jan stopped in his tracks looking at her.

                “Wow, every time I think I remember how beautiful you are, I get blown away...you look stunning Ellen...”

She blushed, he always said EXACTLY the right thing. “You don’t look too bad yourself!”  And that was no lie. He was wearing jeans, well fitted and she could only imagine how snug they’d be around his bum, and a black t-shirt, tight, moulding to his lean, strong physique. The sight of him was SO relaxing, so comforting. Ellen could barely believe she’d been in this hotel a day short of a week, she felt like she’d been here forever...with him. As he pulled her into his arms for a chaste yet passionate kiss, she ignored the worrying fact that whilst she’d only been here a week, she only had a week left.

She was still swooning as she slid onto the moped behind him, and with a noise that was more groan than a growl he directed the moped out onto the road. Palma, the capital was thirtyminutes away, and as the lights of the busy City lit the horizon Ellen smiled. And as they slowed at traffic lights she leaned into his neck and asked, “so what have you planned?” against his warm and heavenly scented skin.

She could hear his chuckle over the rumble of the engine, before he opened the throttle and sped off across the junction.

Eventually he pulled up near the waterfront, outside some rather executive looking apartment blocks all with a sea view.

                “Wow!” Ellen pulled off the helmet and shook her hair free, “have you won the lottery?”

Jan chuckled, “Hardly, this is an apartment owned by family, I can use it when I like.”

                “I thought you shared with the other workers?”

He grinned again, leading her into the reception to store their helmets, “I let them stay Ellen, it’s a tiny little difference.”

                “I  can see why you want to stay here!”

He nodded, “sure beats that hotel! Now come on, the night is young!”

                “Are you working tomorrow?” she asked as he dragged her back into the street.

                “Not til midday. We can do what we like!” He was laughing as he broke into a run, dragging her behind him.

A few minutes later they came upon another party filled street. People dancing in the road, drinks unlimited and easy, fast food stalls serving delicious smelling snacks. They ordered a beer with theif customary tequila chaser at the first bar, and then wandered hand in hand through the throngs of people. Everyone seemed to know Jan, he was obviously a regular here. Initially he gave her his undivided attention, but when a particular group of friends grabbed them he burst into banter with them, Ellen meandered around the paved street watching and smiling.

Most of the music until that point had been flamenco guitars and strong Spanish vocalists, but as she moved through the dancers, Spain’s favourite son blasted through the speakers, Enrique Iglesias was hardly a top ten artist of hers, probably not even top 100, but it was a song she knew..... Yep Hero was as cheesy as it got, but suddenly she embraced it like an old friend, swaying to the music, raising her arms in the air being more dramatic.

Turning she knew Jan’s eyes would be on her, but she didn’t expect him to be so devoted, he could barely drag his eyes away to have a conversation with his friends. She gyrated, wiggling her hips, swaying and moving to the music. Each time she caught his eye she smiled suggestively, letting her dancing become more and more seductive. What she didn’t know was how the low light seemed to give her skin a lustre it hadn’t had earlier, how her dress lifted as she danced showing enough thigh to make his own body lurch, or that the wanton display of freedom, happiness turned him on beyond compare.

So she was completely stunned when arms encircled her from behind, a mouth nibbled at her neck in a ravenous way, and a hard, excited body pressed against every inch of her.

                “You...” his exclamation dwindled into nothing as he pulled her face around so that he could plunder her lips with his own. Ellen sighed against his mouth, relaxing into his arms with relief. She really liked being in his embrace, protected from everyone. “All day...” he rasped against her lips, “I’ve wanted to see you, then,” his tongue slid into her mouth, his hands pulled her closer to him. “...you press yourself up against me....all the way here,” he was barely coherent as he devoured her, “then the dancing....Woman you are like a drug.”

She laughed at his desire, his lack of control; throwing back her head she accommodated his searching mouth as it ransacked her ear, neck. Aware their behaviour was bordering on obscene; Ellen backed them to the side of the street, out of prying eyes.

               

                “Good idea,” Jan breathed lifting his head to look down at her, “we were about to get arrested I think!” He exhaled strongly, “what are you doing to me? I’m usually Mr Sensible.”

Ellen laughed, “so does the date end here? Or are you getting me another drink?”

For another hour they relaxed with the crowds, laughing, dancing, drinking a couple of beers, punctuating with those exotic and delicious kisses that she now associated with him more than anything else. The perfect day at the beach was almost being superseded by this evening. He was charming, funny, and despite it all, Ellen knew she was getting attached, she shouldn’t, but when did a hormonal woman ever use common sense in the attention of an attractive and caring man?

                “So how long have your family had the apartment here?” She asked him once they’d settled in a quieter bar.

Jan slugged at his beer before grinning, “a while. I’ve not stayed here for a long time. I came a few times as a kid, but not for years until now.”

                “Is it like you remembered?” she sipped her Mojito through a long straw as she waited for his answer.

He shrugged, “I wasn’t drinking and partying then, so it was a completely different place for me!”

                “Are you going to stay here? Forever? Or will you go back to Belgium?”

He looked at her with a smile, “I have no idea, and I love that uncertainty. This is how it is to be young, free and independent! Something you need more of Ms Reynolds.”

Ellen laughed, ignoring the little warning sign in her brain, he was happy being carefree, didn’t want the commitment and baggage of life, he’d told her that in the beginning, “I’m starting to realise exactly what I’ve been missing the last few years.”

Jan’s face curled into a beautiful smile, “I intend to show you the full extent of what you almost missed out on Ellen, I promise!”

Much later, her hand wrapped in his, Ellen allowed Jan to lead her through the town, past the large yachts that flanked the harbour, suddenly this was neither a glossy tourist place, nor a haven for local workers...it was the upper echelon of society inhabited. Nothing could disguise the opulence and wealth here. As she stared in awe at the surrounding buildings, Jan led her inside the front entrance of the building they’d deposited the moped and helmets in earlier.

In the lift he pulled her into his arms, “have you had a nice evening?”

She nodded with a smile loving the sparkle in his eyes, “it’s been wonderful and you’ve been the perfect date!”

                “Have I?” he pecked a kiss on her nose, “well so have you!”

Then his lips came to hers properly, there was none of the rushing that they’d had between them in the street earlier, as they kissed now it was gentle, explorative and completely absorbing. The ding of the lift arriving at the correct floor finally dragged them from the mutually appreciated embrace.

                “Come on!” he chuckled sexily, “this is our floor.”

The apartment surprised her, a beautiful, modern living area with a glass wall overlooking a spectacular sea view.

                “Wow! You must have some rich family members!” She exclaimed taking in the modern chrome applianced kitchen, the large cream sofa’s, the huge flat screen TV that dominated one wall.

                “It was an investment between my father and his brothers, the family divided up the times to use it, but no one's been here for  a couple of years, so I get down here whenever I have enough time to get away from the manic hotel.”

Ellen drifted in and flopped onto the sofa, “I’d never be at the hotel. It’s beautiful here!”

Jan opened the doors to the balcony, the fresh air wafting pleasantly into the apartment, “it’s ok, but with work and friends, I tend to split my time between the two. It works for me and keeps me sane!”

She followed him out onto the balcony and rested her arms against the rails, looking at the blinking lights of a ship on the horizon. As she sighed, she felt the warmth of his body behind her, then his breath, his lips, were at her ear. Pressing back into him she loved the feel of him, excited against her, his firm body challenging her own. He sank his teeth gently into the soft flesh at the back of her neck and she gave a toe tingling groan, this was more exciting, more erotic than anything she’d ever known. She’d never wanted to be close to Richard as much as she wanted Jan, but not just at this second as he was teasing her, seducing her, but every waking moment.

Ellen also knew her fragile psyche might crumble if she let him get too close, but she thought she’d explode if she didn’t turn in his arms, slide her hands under his t-shirt, feel those firm muscles, the heartbeat through his chest, was it racing the same as hers? Her every reason for being at that moment was to get closer to Jan, and wild horses wouldn’t stop her.