Desire_A Romance Collection Read online

  I stopped short, wondering if I had fallen asleep or something. When I turned around, though, I wanted to pinch myself to be sure I wasn’t hallucinating or something. However, I figured that would make me look extremely stupid, so I decided against it.

  “Flora? Hi,” I answered, stupidly. “I…I thought you weren’t going to come down…But, thank you for coming…down. Coming down here, to…” I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand on end as I swallowed hard with embarrassment. I was so focused on whether or not she was going to come down to talk to me that I didn’t give a single thought to what I might say when she got down here.

  Flora laughed at my fumbling words, “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m just…Dumb,” I answered. “Really, really, unbelievably dumb.”

  “Yeah, I could’ve told you that. I mean, the door to the building doesn’t lock until ten and you could’ve come and knocked on the door,” she answered in a teasing tone.

  “Oh, yeah…I knew that, but I didn’t want to, um, bother you?”

  Her eyebrows raised as she focused on her words, making me out to sound even more moronic than I initially knew I did.

  “So, you decided that waiting out here and telling my roommate that you wanted to talk…Alone, out here, in the dark, was less creepy?”

  “No! I mean, yes, but I didn’t say it like that!” I insisted, “I never said alone, or in the dark, and I never vowed to be trying to be creepy, or less creepy. I just politely asked if I could speak with you.”

  Again, she laughed, “It’s cool. It’s funny. You didn’t want to invade my space, I get it and I appreciate it.”

  “Thanks,” I breathed a silent sigh of relief, both that she wasn’t coming down here to slap me or something, and that she claimed to understand my strange actions, which let me off the hook, slightly.

  “So, what are you doing here? You wanted to talk to me. Here I am,” she replied, waiting patiently. “What do you want?”

  “I’ve been thinking a lot about the other night...and…the fact that you aren’t like other girls…”

  “I am aware of what happened, as well as the fact that I am likely nothing like any of the girls you’ve been around. First off, I have a brain in my head and I know what I want.”

  “That’s very fair, and extremely true. I like your confidence. It’s intriguing, strange, and admittedly, a little frightening.” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood and get a feel for exactly which way this conversation was heading, but I couldn’t pin down anything specific.

  “You think I’m frightening?” She replied, as her facial expression reacted.

  “No! I don’t think your frightening…Of course not, but your attitude is. I’m not used to girls being like you. Usually, women have a certain need to be liked, while you’re just naturally, you. It’s cool. I like it.”

  “Yeah, but for how long?” She asked with a condescending giggle. “I’m not some toy that you can throw away when you’re done with me. Despite what we did the other night, I am not accustomed to doing what we did, and I was serious when I told you it wouldn’t happen again. I’m not your booty call.”

  “If I thought you were, I wouldn’t be standing out here, trying to get you to talk to me,” I replied, shaking my head, “That’s way too much work for someone I can get with a text message.”

  “Don’t try to fool me, Collin,” she replied with a laugh, I know who you are and what you and your crew normally do.”

  “Um, respectfully, Flora, you really have no idea,” I answered with a certain degree of truth that had a harsh undertone. I didn’t like being played with like this. If she didn’t want to talk to me, why did she come downstairs? I wondered, hoping that her playing was all that it was. “Hey, let me ask you something. Why did you walk away from me so quick the other night? Why couldn’t you tell me what was on your mind?”

  Again, she giggled, and responded, in a teasing tone, “Collin, did you really expect me to love you forever, just because we had one good fuck.”

  I grinned back at her in a playful, charming manner while I insisted, “So, you’re telling me it was good?”

  Flora rolled her eyes and turned around, “Well, like I said before, it won’t happen again.”

  “Flora, as I told you, I’m not here for a booty call. I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me again sometime?”

  “Well, we really didn’t go out,” she answered smartly, “We kind of just, screwed.”

  “No. We had a nice walk together too. You left me in a field, which wasn’t nice. I could have gotten shot, but I didn’t, so you failed if that was your intent. However, whether it was or not, I still think that you owe me the courtesy of another date.”

  “You do, huh?” Flora positioned herself at an angle, with her arms crossed. I couldn’t quite tell if she was leading me on, or just teasing me, with every intention of saying yes. In fact, at that point, I wasn’t sure if she even knew.

  Although, the attitude she portrayed was alluring and cute. In what I guessed was her normal clothes, she also looked riveting. Her jeans and t-shirt didn’t show much of anything off, except her legs, which were nice to look at, but the mounds that I knew were beneath her shirt would’ve been an even nicer surprise. Yet, even with her completely conservative, casual look, she was still gorgeous, and knowing what was under the clothing only made the outfit more enticing.

  I imagined taking her into my arms and tearing off her clothes, right there in the courtyard. Instantly, I thought about how great it would be, for us both to be naked in the darkness, with her back pressed securely against the stone benches behind me, while we rocked back and forth with mutually exciting movements, leading to a wonderful explosion of passion and lust.

  “Hey! Collin! What’s up? Did you hear me?”

  “I’m sorry,” I insisted, “I zoned out for a second there, I guess.”

  What the hell are you doing? You’re making a complete and utter ass out of yourself! I told myself but tried my best to recover.

  “Are you, okay?” She inquired, pulling back from me, slightly.

  “Yes, I’m sorry for acting so strange. It’s just…I don’t know. It’s you?”

  “Me?” She replied, narrowing her eyes, though she didn’t seem upset by this.

  I nodded, hoping to God my honesty didn’t come out sounding too much like a cheap line. “Ever since the other night, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. It’s crazy. I’m normally not this much of a weirdo, but I guess I really want to get to know you. So, with no strings attached, I would like to take you out to dinner and maybe to a movie?”

  Flora listened to me intently, but I couldn’t read her expression.

  When I was finished, I waited patiently for her response.

  “Listen,” she finally answered with a half-grin, on her face, almost making her look sorrowful for what she was about to say, “I want to go on another date with you, but I’m just not in a position to be able to right now.”

  “Okay, then, when?” I asked, “I mean, because it’s summer…So, I know you are dedicated to your school, but there’s nothing to be dedicated to now. The semester is over.”

  “Yes, but what if the relationship extends into the semester? Not that I’m saying it will, or it won’t but if it does…”

  “If it does, we’ll re-evaluate our situation. I’m only asking for one dinner, though and no kind of commitment. As odd as our first meeting was, I feel like there was a real connection and I want to see where that connection goes. Please?”

  “Has this line worked for you in the past?” She asked, but didn’t completely shut me down, so I took that as a good sign.

  “It’s not a line, I promise you. Please, I know you’ve had some bad luck with guys, judging by the other night, but I’m not like them. I will treat you right and if I don’t, or if you’re not happy, for whatever reason, tell me and we’ll go our separate ways. I just want to know you better, Flora.”

  She t
hought about it for a while, before she answered, “If I agree to one date, will you stop creeping outside my building?”

  “Yes,” I chuckled, “I’ll go home.”

  “Good,” she grinned, “Pick me up tomorrow, at seven?”

  “Sure! See you, then,” I answered and turned around, showing that I was returning to my car without any further questions or requests.

  As I drove back to my dorm building, I couldn’t help but feel rejuvenated and excited to have the opportunity to date her.

  While I walked upstairs, to my own dorm, I fantasized about what it was going to be like. The rare amount of conversation that we had a few nights prior circled in my head and I thought about questions I wanted to ask her and interests I hoped we shared.

  Strangely enough, seeing her and talking to her hadn’t dampened my memory of her. It was now better than ever. I thought that the strange way that she departed gave her allure, but it didn’t.

  Seeing her again only strengthened the intrigue. Now that I was going to have a date with her, I wanted to know things about her. I wanted to have a normal conversation and see how we got along when we were together on our own terms, instead of being thrown together by coincidence.

  When I returned to my dorm, Gavin was already sleeping. Next to him, there was a girl who I had never met before. She was practically hanging off the bed because Gavin was apparently a bed hog. I thought about trying to help her but the last thing I needed was for her to think I was some kind of creep.

  I had my fill of being considered a creeper today and I hoped that wasn’t the reason that Flora agreed to go on the date with me.

  Oh God… I thought. Did she just agree to date me so that I would go away? No. That’s crazy. I don’t think she’s that desperate.

  As I climbed into bed, across the room from Gavin, I couldn’t stop doubting myself.

  Crap! She did kind of elude that I was freaking her and her roommate out. I thought she was kidding!

  Thoughts that mirrored these were micromanaged inside my brain, making it extremely hard to fall asleep.

  The only way I was finally able to settle down was by convincing myself that I had no way of knowing until tomorrow. So, in the event that I was wrong about all these horrible thoughts creeping into my brain, I needed to get some sleep, so I didn’t blow my chances by showing up as a sleep-deprived zombie.

  What the hell is wrong with you? I thought to myself as I was finally settling down to sleep. Are you trying to act too crazy to date? What is it about this girl?

  However, I was eventually able to clear my mind enough to fall into a restless, yet somewhat satisfying slumber.

  By the time I woke up, Gavin’s guest had already left, and he was watching television on his phone.

  Admittedly, not much had changed since he left the frat house, except for the screen he used had gotten significantly smaller.

  He didn’t seem to mind, though. Even though he didn’t say it, the fact that he stayed told me that he was happy to be away from the house, with all the technicalities, stupid rules, and drama that wasn’t becoming for a house full of men.

  As soon as I woke up, he took his headphones off and stared at me.

  “So, how’d it go last night? Did you get to talk to her, or did you get escorted back to our dorm? I was asleep, so I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “You were also preoccupied,” I replied, with my eyebrows arched.

  “Yes, I was, and it was a damn good night,” he snickered.

  “That’s great. I’m happy for you.”

  “Thanks, now, should I be happy for you?” He inquired.

  “I think so,” I replied, beaming, “I was able to get a date tonight.”

  “Bravo. Do you think you’ll be getting a little bit…more than a date tonight?” Now, it was Gavin’s arched eyebrows that were woven with insinuation.

  “I don’t know, but honestly, I’m not overly concerned with that.”

  “Oh, bullshit!” He exclaimed, “Don’t insult me with your boy scout act.”

  “I’m serious,” I laughed at his condemnation, “I really am excited to get to know her. She seems like an interesting person.”

  “You know what, dude, you’re absolutely right. It is important to get to know a woman. And you know how you get to know them intimately?”

  I figured I was going to regret this, but I asked anyway, “How?”

  “You rip off their clothes and fuck ‘em. I have my best conversations when my hands and other remedies hold better conversation than my voice.” He laughed at his own joke and I rolled my eyes.

  “You’re not helping,” I insisted.

  “What part of that made you think I was trying to be helpful?” He insisted and then added, “What? Are you nervous? Why? You already saw her naked. Getting in her pants now is going to be a matter of being normal during dinner and not letting it slip that you have any communicable diseases.”

  “What?” I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t!”

  “Well, then I definitely wouldn’t tell her that you did. That’s just stupid.”

  As Gavin appreciated his joke far more than I did, I got out of the bed and walked toward the dorm door to take a shower.

  “Hey, dude!” Gavin called, and I turned around, after a split second of mental debate. “I’m just busin’ your balls. Don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine.”

  I shook my head in a passive, unsteady agreement.

  “Thanks, I sure hope so,” I answered before closing the door behind me.

  The rest of the day seemed to drag, and the unsettling thoughts remained. Even with Gavin’s eventual encouragement, I still didn’t feel prepared for the date, though I couldn’t wait for it to get here.

  I needed to settle the raging thoughts in my mind once and for all.

  When it was finally time to go, I tried to dress nice, without looking like I tried too hard. With one last look in the mirror, through which, I watched Gavin shake his head, I checked to ensure I was at least somewhat presentable and I was on my way.

  I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got there but I was excited to start my adventure.

  Flora was an enigma to me and I couldn’t figure out why she was so entrancing. I wanted to figure her out and tonight, would be my opportunity.

  When I pulled up to the parking space that was close to her dorm, I felt my stomach churn.

  Looking up at the building, all the terrible feelings and thoughts of failure returned. I had tried to keep these thoughts at bay all day but now that I was so close, it was hard to concentrate on anything else.

  Not wanting to waste any time, I got out of the car, before I second-guessed myself and started to walk toward her building.

  I looked up at the windows, wondering if anyone noticed me from the night before. However, most of the blinds were shut and I didn’t see anyone at the windows in the remaining areas, so I figured I wasn’t the spectacle I feared I had become.

  I went up to her dorm room, took a deep breath and knocked on the door, before I could lose my nerve.

  Even still, I thought about turning and making a run for it, which was extremely weird, considering how excited I was to have this date in the first place.

  However, my mind seemed to contradict all those terrible thoughts the moment that Flora opened the dorm door.

  I had seen a lot of beautiful women, both dressed to the nines and otherwise, but I was sincerely shocked at the transformation I beheld at the woman who answered the door.

  Flora was wearing a sleek, decadent, arousing, low-cut dress, which hugged her curves and showed off every bit of her womanly essence, without sacrificing a hint of sophistication. Her hair was pinned up in a ruby hairpiece that matched her dress, while strands of her golden hair outlined her gorgeous face.

  I was wildly attracted to her before, watching her ass shake in shorts and an oversized t-shirt, but this side of her gave way to a whole new level of beauty that transcended anyone I had ever seen.


  Flora was flawless and even though I was certain she had put effort into making herself look this way, her beauty came across as natural. Sure, her dress was pretty and the accessories she pieced together to make up the outfit were perfect, but it was the whole package that made her so astounding.

  Any woman could clean up nice but there were some people who radiated beauty, especially after putting forth an effort and Flora was simply glowing.

  You thought you wanted her badly before… I thought to myself as I struggled to think of the right thing to say.

  “Hi, Flora,” I finally stuttered, more to ensure my mouth was no longer agape than to have something intelligent to say, “You look fantastic.”

  “Thank you,” she grinned, in a sweet, yet knowing way.

  Suddenly, I felt completely underdressed and extremely stripped of my confidence, which was uncharted waters for me. However, I knew it was too damn late to worry about that now, so I stammered out, “Umm, is the steakhouse okay? You do like stake, right?”

  Jesus Christ! Pull yourself together! I thought, wondering what she was thinking of me.

  “Well, I see that your attitude has improved,” Flora teased, “You look handsome too and stake sounds great.”

  She moved past me, closing the door behind her as she swayed against me. I wasn’t sure if her sway was intentional, but I hoped it was.

  “My attitude?” I laughed.

  “Yeah, last night you were a little bit showy. If you really want to date me, be more real,” she answered as she strutted down the hall, turning back with a cheeky grin, “I figured I owed you some advice. You seem kinda new at dating a girl with a brain.”

  “Cool…Thanks,” I answered, escorting her down the stairs while trying not to stare too much.

  I opened the door to my car for her and she climbed in, completely ignoring my outreached hand.

  “Oh,” she called once she settled into the passenger side, “I hope it’s okay, but I can’t make it a super-late night tonight. I have something to do early tomorrow, so I can’t be out too late.”

  Fuck. I thought but forced an unmoved grin, “Sure. No worries. This night is about you, remember? So, you’re wish is my command.”