Seventeen
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This was obviously not the first time such an announcement had been made and it was met with cheers and applause. The meetings were very formal, not festive in any way, shape or form. Eddie caught himself, a couple of times, allowing his gaze to linger too long upon Sam. The red silk blouse and black jacket reminded him of the red satin sheet and the black garter. An hour after it began, the meeting was adjourned. Eddie left quickly.
The gate to the apartment swung open and he did not notice the red sports car slipping through. Eddie just wanted to relax for a while as he parked the truck and headed up the stairs. Tossing his jacket over one of the bar stools, he plopped himself on the couch. Someone knocking on the door startled him.“ Taylor must have seen him coming up the steps.” He thought. He opened the door prepared to say,“ Not today.”“ I was hoping we could go out for lunch, but you ran out before I had the chance to ask,” Sam said.“ How...?”“ I thought I was following that big silver truck of yours back to your project. Are you going to ask me in or leave me standing out here like a door-to-door sales person?” she asked, stepping forward. Eddie pushed the door open and stepped back. He closed the door behind her. She looked around.“ Yours?”“ Rodney’ s.”“ Of course. I remember someone saying he had a few places around town,” she said, sitting on the couch and removing her jacket. He took her coat and placed it over his.“ Care for something to drink?”“ He is a gentleman. What do you have?” Eddie offered her the list of beverages available from the kitchen, and tried to gather himself. He was happy when she asked for tea. It gave him time to think as he put water in the kettle, found a white ceramic holder with an assortment of sweeteners and placed it on the coffee table. He poured the water for a cup of coffee for himself and tea for her. Sam’ s eyes followed him as he moved about. Setting her cup on a saucer with a teaspoon and placing it before her, he sat on the far end of the couch.“ Thank you,” she said. They sat for a while sipping their drinks until Eddie could stand the silence no longer.“ Now what?” he asked.“ I guess that is up to you,” she answered, meeting his gaze. He patted the cushion next to him. She was willing to play along.
Sam set her cup on the table, moved closer, removed the cup from his hand and set it down for him. When she turned to face him, he placed his finger under her chin and she closed her eyes. He tasted her lips and felt her hand pull gently on his shoulder. His tongue touched her lips and they parted.“ What caused you to change your mind?” she asked, after they broke the heated kiss.“ You standing at the door,” he said, as she untied his tie and unfastened the first button on his shirt. He had already been accused, tried and convicted of the crime. This was not his fault. He turned on some music, removed her shoes and leaned her back on the couch. He could feel her heartbeat as he kissed her again and ran his hand over the curves he had memorized.“ Hold that thought. I have to use the ladies room,” she whispered, as he began to unbutton her blouse.“ There are only two doors. You won’ t get lost,” he smiled, pointing toward the short hallway.“ I’ ll be right back,” she said, slipping away. He drank the last of his coffee. The nylons she was wearing, were absent when she returned. Eddie noticed.“ I probably need to follow you. Too much coffee,” he said, as she walked past him.“ That happens,” she said, stopping in the middle of the room and looking around the place.