It was shocking.
It was wonderful.
It was a pure revelation.
Despite all rational and moral objections, I might have voiced in saner moments to kissing a man I barely knew-especialy this man. I found myself swept away by the moment, giving myself over to the wave of sensual pleasure that suddenly crashed over my body and soul.
My arms moved up to circle his shoulders, my fingertips toying with the thick, damp strands of his hair. His mouth glided over mine, coaxing, tasting and teasing until I couldn't help but respond. I moaned quietly in the back of my throat, and the small sound inspired me with a new surge of ardor. Heavens, it had been months-no, years-since I'd been kissed like this. I have never been kissed like this.
Then, just as I began to lost myself completely, I was saved. A small voice sounded from the top of the stairs, and heard it as if it echoed from miles away.
"Mommy?
"Noah. He'd woken up." I whispered
"Who's Noah?" He asked still confused of the situation at the moment .
"He's my son ;" I said and sprang away from he's hold as if I'd been stuck by a cattle prod. I ran over to the staircase and started up, toward my son.
Some part of my mind reflecting that it was funny how a child might sometimes sleep through a tornado then wake up to the sound of a toothbrush dropping on the floor three rooms away.
"It's okay, honey. Everything's all right, I assured him. "Go back to bed. I'll be up in a minute to tuck you in.
He rubbed his eyes sleepily but didn't budge until she reached him at the landing, "I heard voices. It sounded like you were talking to someone...... Is Someone here?"
I wondered for a moment if I should tell one of the little white lies that help adults survive parenthood, for she could make Noah believe all he had heard was the TV. Then I thought best not to, realizing that Noah could easily get out of bed again and see Brian Adams . With my hand on Noah's shoulder I gently guided him back toward his bedroom. "Mommy has a Visitor. But he'll be gone in a few minutes."
"A visitor? Noah sounded confused. And rightly So. I rarely dated and never had men over for the night, out of consideration for my son. "Who's here?"
"Just a man who got lost in the rain on the road," I said. The explanation satisfied me as it Wasn't a total fabrication, from what Brian had told me of his journey. "His car broke down near our house and he needs to call up for a ride to town."
There, that should appease even Noah's eight year-old, insatiable mind, I decided. I fipped back the comnforter on Noah's bed. "Okay, back to bed now."
"How is this man going to get a ride to town?"
Noah protested as he clinmbed back under his quilt imprinted with the infamous Curious George. "He'll never get a ride into town in the middle of the night Mom, Noah assured me
"Hmm, we'll see. I tugged the quilt up over his small body and dropped a kiss on his fore head.
As I descended the stairs again, I realized that Noah was correct, as usual. The only way Brian Adams could get back to town at this hour was if I packed up Noah and drove him or lent him her vehicle. I guessed the time to be close to 2:00 a.m., and neither solution seemed appealing. When I entered the living room, Brian was standing at the far end, gazing out at the rain again, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. He turned to look at me with a bland, distant expression, and it was as if our intimate encounter had never happened.
Just as well, I decided. I was quite happy to skip any commentary or analysis. The moment had seemed like a dream, a wild fantasy. I couldn't begin to understand my reaction to him-no less explain it.
"Is your boy all right? he asked politely.
He's fine," I assured him.
"I'm sorry I woke him. I hope he wasn't scared, hearing a strange voice in the house in the middle of the night."
His consideration for Noah surprised me. Was it act, designed to put her off guard? Had that impetuous kiss been a ploy, as well? I suddenly wondered.
"I explained that your car got stuck on the road and you walked here for help. He said he didn't think you'd be able to get a ride back to town tonight. "
"From the looks of your town.I suspect he's right. If I'd sneezed while driving down Main Street,I might have missed it."
"It's not quite that dinky, I protested "But Sweetwater doesn't have a twenty-four-hour taxi service. We don't have any taxi service at all, actually," I admitted.
"And I suppose that, even if I could find a ride somehow, there probably aren't any motels around here, are there?"
"Sure, there's a motel, I replied agreeably. "The E-Z Rest. About thirty-five miles north on Route 6. The truckers seem to like it."
I tried to picture Brian Adams spending a night at the E-Z Rest. The image made her secrely smile. Well, it certainly was not the Ritz.....
"I might have guessed, he replied in a grim, resigned tone. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Well maybe you could kindly lend me an umbrella, then. It looks as if it s still raining a bit, and I do have a rather long walk back to my car."
"Your car? I thought you said your car wasn't working."
"That's correct. And the rental agency can't get a replacement out here until sonmetime late tomorrow . And that's only if the rain stops."
"Well then, why, may I ask, are going back out to your car? It you've left any valuables there, you needn't worry. This area may be a backwater. But we are just about crime free."