Cafe Romance (39 page)

"Not bad. The winds off of the bay are beginning to pick up strength, though."

"Sounds serious," she replied, opening the red wine.

"By morning we should know just how serious," he added, as his eyes drank in the sensuality of her physique. She was wearing a near form-fitting sundress.

Yvette offered him a cold drink.

"Any lemon flavored ice-tea?" he asked.

Yvette nodded her head gently.

He was in luck. She had made some earlier in anticipation of his visit. "Sure, I'll get you some from the refrigerator," she smiled.

"Man, something smells good in here," he trumpeted, looking about.

"Why thank you. It's your specially cooked meal," she smiled, swelling with pride.  It had been well over a decade since she last cooked for a man. Not even Antwan had been privy to her culinary skills. For some unknown reason, the experience was more pleasant and satisfying than she had remembered. And aside from grandma’s southern-styled cooking, it had been a while since he enjoyed a meal prepared exclusively for him, and gourmet on top of that. But, then again, none of his prior love-interests possessed the culinary skills she possessed. He felt special tonight, and he told her so.

"You know, you have a beautiful home," Kurt remarked, glancing about. "You have great taste, I must say."

"Why, thank you," she beamed, very pleased with his appraisal.

As she put on a clean kitchen apron Kurt drew closer to the cool surface of the ceramic tiled island to watch her culinary skills at work. She was the master chef and he the student. And like a first time student, with a school boy crush, he quietly observed her as she heated 1/4 cup oil in a heavy skillet, adding carrots and stirring. The eggplant strips went in next. She then added 2 tablespoons of water and stirred another minute.

Kurt continued to watch intently, and with great interest, as she transferred everything to a bowl. A pinch of salt, onions, garlic and red pepper flakes followed. A few seconds later she added freshly quartered tomatoes. Another pinch of salt and two tablespoons of red wine followed and was cooked until the sauce had thicken, about 1 1/2 minutes later. The sauce was then removed from the heat and vinegar, basil and pine nuts were stirred in. She seasoned it with black pepper. Goat cheese was eventually crumbled over each serving, providing the finishing touch.

Walking over to the wall-mounted rotisserie oven Yvette opened it and withdrew three skewers of sizzling hot shish kabobs, made up of cherry tomatoes, onions, teriyaki marinade lamb, chicken, and ocean shrimp, diced green peppers, carrots and potatoes. From the baking oven she withdrew a pan of steaming herb-flavored yellow rice.

She placed all of the hot food in serving dishes and placed the serving dishes on the cloth-covered table, which was already set with imported chinaware for two. She retrieved the herbed crab salad from the refrigerator and sat it on the table. Excusing herself, she went to wash her hands, and freshen up. 

Back in her bedroom, she put on her earrings, her ankle bracelet, patted her hair into form, and sprayed some perfume on. She realized now that she never truly stopped loving Kurt.  And having him over tonight seemed to rekindle all that she ever felt for him. She felt charged. Energized when around him. The very air around her felt electrified. Right now, she dreamed of being enveloped, like a warm blanket, by his strong protective arms. Perhaps tonight he would make her dreams come true.  She just hoped that he was over Antwan. She was.

Returning to the dining room, minus the apron, she lit two candles, which were centered on the table, then walked over to the wall switch to dim the lights. The two quietly sat down and consumed the delicious meal she had prepared for him, both sipping red wine throughout the main course. Often, she’d notice his soft gaze traveling over her face, searching her eyes. And with each passing moment her body ached for his manly touch, her lips longed to be crushed by his hungry kiss. Even the sound of his deep manly voice affected her. It was soothing, sexy, and confident in tone. Most women are attracted to confident men. Yvette was one of them.

After the main course, the two enjoyed the dessert she had prepared
:
poached apricots with macadamia shortbread and whipped cream. Afterwards, she began the kitchen cleanup. Kurt insisted on helping her. The two talked, joked, laughed and listened, off and on, to the weather updates blaring from the small kitchen television. The fast approaching storm was now reported to be a category four hurricane, a category five being the most powerful. Winds were around one hundred twenty-six miles an hour.

After the kitchen detail she silenced the television with the remote. The two quietly retreated to the living room and lowered themselves onto the carpeted sofa. Grabbing another remote she turned on the stereo system.

A soothing piano jazz tune permeated the room with colorful rich sounds from supporting instruments such as the tenor sax, alto sax, trombone, string bass and trumpet. Nothing like a little Thelonious Monk on a night like this. Yeah, Monk kicking it at the piano, soulfully, masterfully; as a menacing hurricane lurks in the shadows. Add to this a man and a woman with strong pent-up emotions for one another, emotions held back far too long. Yes, the night looked promising, she thought.

Around nine-thirty Kurt thanked her for the lovely meal, the chilled wine, the warm spirited conversation, and for being the perfect hostess, then said it was about time he made his way home. She sighed, with disappointment, "Well, if you must," then rose up. So much for her dream of being wrapped in his warm protective arms tonight.

The two descended the wood stairs slowly, almost reluctantly. Because they had been so engrossed in their conversation and music neither one realized how bad the weather had deteriorated outside. But as they neared the door and peered out of it, it looked like all hell had broken loose. The winds were still gusty, but more forcefully. In addition it was raining heavily now. A torrential downpour.

Kurt kissed her on the cheek, said goodnight, then opened the door to depart but before the first raindrop could touch him, she stopped him with her hand and asked him to close the door. Looking caringly into his eyes, her gaze conveying concern, she said, gravely, "Look, it's too dangerous for you to go out there right now Kurt.  It looks like all hell just broke loose and it's only going to get worse.  Please stay.  Honey, you can ride the storm out here tonight."

"I don't know," he shrugged. "I can probably make it home if I leave now."

"Kurt, please don’t go. It's just too dangerous," she pleaded with anxiety evident in her voice.

"You sure about this, Yvette?" He murmured thoughtfully.

"I insist!" she said with unwavering resolve, her voice firm, final.

Kurt looked away for a moment then gave his gaze back to her. "Really sure?" he asked, his eyes dark and dreamy. She smiled and nodded. "Yes, really sure." Then as if an afterthought, he said, "Look, there's something I want to tell you Yvette. It's been on my mind ever since I ran into you at the
Café
last week."

She started to say something but hesitated, as her face began to look strained. Then after a thoughtful moment, she said, "Then tell me."

His mouth curved with tenderness when he said, "Yvette, I just wanted to say that I really missed you. I have never been so miserable. Please, don’t let anyone else come in between us again.”

"Darling, I won’t. Not ever again. Now, with that said, I can see in your eyes you still have some reservation about Antwan," she continued, her eyes probing his face for some kind of reaction, but finding none. "Listen, it’s over between Antwan and me. I just don't know any other way to put it, baby. But please, don't hold my failed involvement with him against me for the rest of my life," she pleaded, looking him steadily until his eyes fell.

The silence was pronounced as he searched for the right words to say. In the meantime, he watched the tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him beseechingly. Drawing close to her he said, softly and tenderly, "As you wish, Yvette. Now do you think you could show me that pretty smile of yours again?"

There was a warmth and charm about him that she found irresistible. Looking up into his level gaze, she found herself forming a smile. And she began to feel bubbly inside again. As they traded smiles, he drew his face closer to hers. "You know, you have the most succulent lips I've ever seen on a woman."

"You really think so?" she breathed back, dreamy-eyed.

"I most certainly do," he said with half closed eyes, his lips slightly parted, lips which were closing in on her, in slow motion. Her own eyes were now closed, her lips pursed, the air filled with great anticipation. Just as their eager lips were about to unite in a passionate union there was a sudden and very frightening thunderous clap, a loud popping sound, then the lights and power went dead, throwing the two into complete darkness.

Both withdrew and looked about, both startled by the unexpected outage. And both peered out of the small window to their left. They could see that the outage affected the entire community.

The debate over whether Kurt should leave or stay was of no consequence now. He was not about to leave her literally in the dark.

Turning, he took her hand into his hand and escorted her up the stairs and into the living quarters, both being careful as they inched their way towards the kitchen where she said there was a flashlight in a counter drawer. When she located it she pointed the beam inside another drawer in search of a book of matches. She found the matches. The two collected several wax candles and began to light them, placing them strategically about the rooms. Afterwards, they secured the flashlight to conserve energy. 

Yvette managed to find some linen and a pillow for the sofa bed in her study where Kurt would be residing for the night. He followed, with a flickering candle in hand.

 After she prepared the sofa bed, she excused herself to go into the kitchen. She returned with a small tray of chips and dip in hand. Returning to the kitchen, she grabbed two drinks for them. It was time to get comfortable. He sat on the edge of the sofa bed while she sat down on the carpeted floor. There was a gap between them, at first, but she quickly closed it. All the while, the two exchanged private messages by way of their desire-filled gaze.

“Man, just look at the flickering shadows on the walls. Your candle lit room resembles a monastery,” he jested. Yvette smiled in response.

The two sat quietly for a while, neither saying much. He had remembered, as a young boy growing up in Jersey, that whenever there was an electrical storm, the entire family would all sit quietly in the dark, not saying anything for the lightning and thunder supposedly represented God talking. And when God spoke, everyone listened.

The heavy downpour was more audible now that the humming of the refrigerator and the dishwasher had been silenced by the sudden power outage. The romantic atmosphere Yvette and Kurt found themselves in was not lost upon them. Drawing closer to each other they held hands and talked softly. During their quiet chat, she mentioned that her shoulders and injured knee had become sore. The combined effects of rain and her mild case of arthritis had something to do with it, she explained.

As if on cue, Kurt quickly volunteered to massage her. She accepted his offer and repositioned herself comfortably just below him. Like a gifted hand specialist, he brought comfort and relief to her sore shoulders, neck, back, and temples. He also worked the area near her knee, the one she had injured some years earlier.

Minutes into this therapeutic session he scanned her radiant face and could see that she was completely relaxed. Withdrawing his hands reluctantly, he said he was calling it a night. It had been a long day and he knew that it might be a long night with the approaching hurricane.

"Could you show me the bathroom, please?" he asked her, then added boyishly, "Hey, perhaps you could even tuck me into bed afterwards."

"Why certainly," she replied, glancing up at him with a smile.

Taking his hand into hers they stood up. With a lit candle flickering in her hand providing soft illumination, she escorted him to the guest bathroom. Handing him the candle she found her way over to her battery operated portable boom box across the room and put on a jazz CD. Fortunately, she had just replaced the batteries a few days earlier.

When he returned, she said, "Now, let's get you tucked into bed."  She took possession of the candle, then walked solemnly over to her computer desk, which was in the dark corner of the room, and perched the glowing stick on the desktop and returned to the sofa bed, her hand still gripping his hand as he followed her.

As they neared the pullout bed Kurt, without warning, stopped, and spun her around. He drew her close to him and brought his mouth over her surprised mouth and kissed her long and hard. As they savored the explosive passion, both were left feeling lightheaded. The emotions they had stirred up were overwhelming.

As his heart raced, he gazed searchingly into first, her left eye, then her right eye. He told her how much he cared for her. They embraced again and locked their lips in another hungry kiss. When they broke off she turned, took another step or two and again he pulled her into his embrace and locked lips with hers in another passion-filled kiss.

Releasing her, she turned and stepped away but he quickly close the gap, and embraced her from behind, pressing gently against the softness of her round bottom. I know he didn’t go there, she thought. Not that it mattered. She was already burning with desire. Just the same, he was in for it now, she mused, for unknowingly, he had discovered her second most sensitive erogenous zone, causing a different form of excitement to ripple throughout her body.

Turning her around for the last time, he gazed down into her eyes, then her scented body slowly. Her full lips parted, demanding that he keep her passion soaring. When he obliged her they became lost in the eddy of emotions they found themselves swirling around in. When she came up for air he unfastened her top, slowly and deliberately, one button at a time, exposing her scented and firm round breasts and the flesh tone lacy bra that fought to contained them. He marveled at the sight of her prodigious breasts, as he felt a sudden urge to touch them, caress them, and ravish them. He was a breast man and her breasts were everything he'd imagine, and more.