Our food arrived a couple of minutes after we’d received our drinks. We enjoyed the meal and left. It was early in the evening when we got into the car. It was time to take Claudia home.
My phone went off. It was Joseph. I set the phone on the mount facing the dashboard, so Claudia could see it was him.
I pulled out of the parking space and drove out into the street. “John here,” I answered.
“So, how did it go?” he asked.
Claudia gazed over quizzically.
I chewed my bottom lip over at the premature call, then laughed at what Joseph said next.
“Oh, hey, Miss Belle. I guess you’re still on your date? My bad.” Joseph chuckled with embarrassment.
“Don’t worry about it. We are just leaving the restaurant. I’m taking Claudia home.”
“I guess it was a little premature of me?”
“Hi, Joseph,” Claudia greeted amiably.
“Hi there, Miss Belle. Sorry for checking up on you guys, but it’s my duty as a guardian. You understand that.”
Claudia smiled.
“She gets it, Joseph.”
“Just explaining myself, nephew.”
I sighed with disbelief.
“Hey, if you want to spend the night, by all means, you can. I would hate to break this up early if you guys have plans—”
“Joseph.” I couldn’t believe he was saying that.
Claudia gazed at me, putting a hand over her mouth. She was laughing.
Is he asking what I think he’s asking? she questioned.
I bit my fingernail. Yeah, he is.
“Joseph, seriously?”
“Hey, no need to tell me. You have my permission to be out late, not that you need it, but just so you know, I know where you are.”
“Joseph.” I wished he would stop.
“What?” he asked innocently. “I think we are all adults here.”
“Claudia’s only seventeen,” I corrected him—not that it had stopped us from imagining how it could be.
“Oh, well. What’s a week or two?”
My mouth dropped slightly and I looked at Claudia, wanting to apologize.
“Your forgetting Michael,” Claudia volunteered.
“Oh, yeah. Well, that changes everything. Unless you come over here, of course. You won’t even know I’m home. I can leave, too, that’s always an option.”
Seriously? Claudia blushed slightly.
“Good night, Joseph. I’ll be home soon.”
“Really? You two are calling it a night?”
“Yes, really.” I hung up before he said anything more to embarrass me.
I pulled up to Claudia’s house. She was still laughing when I put the car in park.
“I’m glad you guys are getting along now,” I said, feeling the joy he gave her. It was almost sad, and I immediately knew why.
“I like him a lot, John. He’s so sweet. If I had an uncle, I would want him to be that person.”
There was a silent moment while we both considered what she said. We were recalling Mr. Vega, the stranger who had turned her life upside down.
“I just wish he didn’t have to leave,” Claudia said.
“He might not have to, if I can convince him to go with us.”
She regarded me intently. “Can he do that? I mean, can he just leave?”
“I’m not sure, but then again, I don’t know what happens to him after I’m gone. I’ve never asked. I’ve never had a reason to imagine us without the other. I guess I’ve been so caught up on wanting to leave and be with you, I never thought to ask him or even think about it.”
“I want him to come with us, if it’s possible,” Claudia said.
It warmed me that she thought as much of him as I did. “I’ll ask him.”
Claudia leaned over and kissed me tenderly. It caught me off guard. She pulled away, caressing my cheek, I was once again under her hypnotic spell. I wanted more than a kiss and she knew it. She trailed her fingers gently under my shirt.
I gasped and grabbed her, kissing her passionately. I caught a glimpse of Michael near the entrance window when I opened my eyes and gently pushed her back. My eyes told her we were being watched.
“I guess I better go,” she forced herself to say. She pulled her hands away from my pants, the zipper halfway open.
I exhaled, biting my lower lip. I didn’t want to let her go.
“Should I return? I can wait,” I said, excitement evident in my voice. I was desperate to be in her embrace.
Claudia drew on her bottom lip. The voice in her head said yes, but she had another thought that sounded far more appealing. She neared again, this time taking a seat on my lap.
It ached to have her so close and not take her. I listened obediently and thought of Dr. Nicholson’s words and how true they felt now … that I would do anything just to possess her.
I pressed her close, feeling the strain pushing on her lap. I was lost for a moment in the gentle caress of her hands as she stroked my hair.
“Why don’t we plan a special night for after the prom?”
I nodded obediently. Her mind merged with mine and she described the proposed night.
We can be alone in your room … together. I’m sure Joseph won’t mind.
I exhaled, imagining her in my arms, wondering how she would taste when I finally had her in my embrace. Her cheeks reddened at the thought in my mind.
Can Joseph cover for us?
He’ll do anything I ask him. That won’t be a problem, Miss Belle. I’m yours.
Claudia giggled. I was putty in her hands.
You have a pool? she inquired after catching the image I projected.
Yes. I could barely think around the ideas she was putting in my head.
Then it’s a date, John Slater. Claudia leaned forward and kissed me deeply.
I grabbed her buttocks and pushed against her. She gasped, quickly pulling back.
“I think I better go, this time for real.” She smiled ruefully. “Michael’s voice keeps entering my head.”
I grinned. “I wasn’t listening to him, I was too busy …”
Claudia blushed and climbed off. She glanced at the entrance to the house. Putting myself back together, I got out of the car and helped her out, then got her dress out of the trunk.
As we stopped before the house door, she grabbed me and kissed me once more. The porch lights came on and Claudia let go.
She smiled. “See you tomorrow.”
Her kiss had left me speechless. Um, tomorrow, I stupidly thought before she disappeared inside.