Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Emmie was laughing as she sipped her wine.  They had tired of sodas long ago, so she’d called down and ordered some bubbly to share.  They were sitting on a blanket on the balcony, having shoved the patio table and chairs out of the way.  As they talked, they watched the cruise ships sail by, defined in the dark only by their many lights against the pitch  black water and sky.

It amazed her how quickly things had changed in a matter of hours.  When Richie had first showed up at her door, she’d been icy, cool, reserved, and ready to send him on his merry way without so much as an explanation.  But now, just a couple hours later, she was open and warm.  She’d been telling him things only Gia knew about her family, about her life.  She wasn’t normally so open, especially not with a man, but he seemed genuinely interested, or at least he pretended to be, and it was nice for change.

Richie had sat and listened through a couple sodas and a bottle of wine.  Now they were working on a second, and for the first time since he had hit the big time, not once had his mind headed south--well, okay, maybe once, but she was far different from all the girls he had been around as of late, and it was definitely a refreshing change.  Normally, rich girls were a bit of a turn off; they tended to be snooty and aloof.  But not Em, she had dreams, desires, and from the way it sounded, her life was far from the picturesque life most would think a girl of her stature would have.

They had moved their conversation back inside on the couch, and with a flick of remote, started to watch TV.  Richie had told her about his life, and how it had become the crazy rock-’til-you-drop lifestyle, even confessing that sometimes he wished it were still normal.

“So, Em, if you could have or be anything in the world, what would it be?” Richie asked as he sat his empty wine glass on the table and gazed at her.

Emmie giggled as a million answers flew through her mind.  She knew she’d had a bit more wine than was wise, but so what!  She felt better than she ever had, and she was having FUN!  “Anything at all?”  She took another sip of the evil red liquid.  “A poor person with a gas station job, and no nagging relatives to preach to her about what’s appropriate and proper!” she said with barely veiled anger.  “I’d go out with dirt under my nails, hair on my legs, and ratty old clothes I bought at a--GASP!--second hand store!”  Her giggles continued unabashed as she visualized how scandalized her mother would be if she were to see her in such a state.

Richie laughed.  “Why don’t you just do it?  You have graduated, so there shouldn’t be anything that's really stopping you now.”  She shot him an exasperated look.  “I know you’re not 18 yet, but you’re close enough you could tell her to let you be yourself.  She can’t live her life through you.  You’re your own person.”

“Because, Richie!”  She shook her head at  him.  “It’s FAMILY, and you don’t just up and leave your family high-and-dry and just do what you please.  Family sticks together!  Even if they irritate you to no end.  I can’t just up and go get a job and stuff!”  She let her face fall into a pout.  “Besides,” her tone turned ironic, “I do sorta like my expensive clothes, and manicures, and fancy hotel suites.”  She hung her head and groaned.  “God, I am a spoiled little rich brat!”  After another pause, she added, “And I think I’m also kinda drunk?”  She sounded very perplexed at how she’d become so.

Richie scooted a bit closer, swung his arm around her, pulled her into a hug, and with a chuckle replied, “It’s okay to love all the finer things in life.  I find I enjoy them myself, darlin’.  No, you’re not a spoiled brat.  You just know what you like, nothin’ wrong with that.”  He placed a kiss on her forehead.  “Yes, you’re just a bit drunk, and there’s nothin’ wrong with that, either, every once in awhile.”

Emmie was engulfed by large, strong arms.  The scent of his cologne tickled her nose, and when his full lips touched the skin of her forehead, she let out an involuntary groan of confusion.  Why did he smell so damn good? Why was her skin tingling?  Was she warm from the wine, or from his nearness?  What the actual hell was going on?! “Oh my...” she mumbled as she pulled back a bit from his casual embrace.  She looked up into dark, amused brown eyes.  “I think I like you way too much,” she muttered, then shook her head in surprise.  “I mean...um...that wasn’t supposed to be said out loud!”

A smirk spread across Richie’s face. “It’s okay.  I think I like you way too much, too,” he said teasingly.  He sat there for a moment, debating whether to ask for a kiss from those lips just begging to be kissed, or just do it.  Deciding on the latter, he leaned in, cupped her face and placed a sweet kiss on her lips.

Emmie froze when his lips touched hers, a slight gasp escaping her.  Her mind told her to move away, to pull back, put distance between herself and his delicious....  Her mind melted, and she felt herself leaning in closer.  She was vaguely aware of her hand slipping up to touch his cheek, then slide around to rest on his neck, his long hair tickling her skin.  Those lips, they were dangerous!  So soft, yet firmly demanding, he was slowly casting a spell on her with their warmth.

His hands slid further down her back while his kisses deepened, but deep in the back of his mind, he knew to not push too far.  She wasn’t like the girls at their shows.  “You taste so good, Em.  I think I found a new addiction.”  His eyes twinkled, then he pressed his lips against hers one more time, his hands softly caressing her back, pulling her closer to him.

“New?”  She gave a nervous chuckle as she leaned her head on his shoulder and willed her breathing to slow down.  “You have a lot of addictions?”

He pulled back, and with a deep, hearty laugh, said, “Naw, darlin’.  Just saying, if I had addictions, which I don’t--okay, maybe a bit of se--um, never mind.  Anyway, I think you would be it.”

She smiled a bit, not quite sure what to do or say.  At least now she understood what Gia meant by someone “rockin’ her world”.  After that round of kisses, if she hadn’t been so uptight and unsure of herself, she would have grabbed him and dragged him to her bedroom!  Her body was positively singing from head to toe, and her head was buzzing.  Oh wait, maybe that was wine?  No, no, it wasn’t; it was him.  She simply looked up at him and said, “Wow, just...wow,” and gave another nervous laugh.

Richie shifted a bit, his jeans a little snug.  Normally, he would have had the girl’s clothes off and been giving her what the King of Swing was known to give, but again, this girl was different.  He needed to be patient.  When she was ready--if she was ever ready--he would then take the next step.  With the nod of his head, he agreed, “Yes, ma’am, it was definitely a wow moment.”  His eyes twinkled devilishly.

She cleared her throat and looked at the clock.  “Yeah, um...it’s, uh, getting kind of late and, um, I’ve had a little too much wine.  I should probably...head to bed.”

“Do you need to help?  Before I leave,” Richie suggested as he stood up.  “I had a great time.  I’d like to do this again, or maybe we can do something tomorrow.  Sightsee?  Lunch?”

Emmie nodded as she walked him to the door.  “Yeah, lunch sounds good.”  She felt a sudden sadness that he was leaving, but she kept it to herself.

Richie leaned down, his lips barely a hair’s breath from hers.  “How’s noon sound?”

With a sigh, she muttered, “Perfect,” though whether she was talking about the time or his lips so teasingly close, she was unsure.

“Great, see you then.  Wear some comfortable shoes; we might do some hiking,” he suggested, then pressed his lips to her one more time before he left.  “Sleep well, darlin’.”

She nodded, and leaned against the door frame as watched him disappear down the hall.  Once he was gone, she shut the door and leaned against it.  “Wow...” she sighed, then fairly floated off to find her bed.