Reality And Romance

“No, but they’d probably try and make us have arguments in the house and you’d probably have to stage some jealously. It’s bullsh*t, and I don’t want you to have to do it so I decided this would be easier.” Noticing her frown, Andrew tried to lighten up the conversation and added, “What do you think of the outfit?” It was black, latex, with red stripes covering it from top to bottom. Very form fitting, and it hadn’t escaped Libby’s notice how it showed off the smooth curve of his muscular ass. The rest of his figure looked good as well, although from the size of those muscles, and how well defined the six pack was she assumed that it must be part of the costume.

“Blow up abs and biceps?” Libby asked, hoping to poke fun at him. She still hadn’t quite forgiven him for the whole ‘kidnapping’ incident.

“These are my real muscles.” Andrew smirked.

Libby gawked. Sure, he had looked good in the hot tub, but those muscles? In real life? She had hit the jackpot. Libby tried to think of something intelligent to say. Something respectful, that would show him that she saw him as a man and not just a ‘sexy as anything, oh my God, take that outfit off now’ piece of meat. But all she managed was an impressed, “Nice.”

Andrew smiled, and Libby flushed as she noticed his dark eyes flicker with something not quite savory. Suddenly, the space between them seemed thick and there was a palpable, and not quite comfortable tension. Libby became increasingly aware of the contact of their hands and how close their bodies were.

Thankfully, before she got any more flustered, they soon arrived at the date destination.

Libby gasped. It was beautiful. On the floor of the roof lay a large purple blanket, decorated by hundreds of tea lights that flickered like bright stars in the darkness, while four red Chinese lanterns glowed at the corners of the blanket. On the blanket was a large picnic basket and two bottles of wine.

“Do you like it?” Andrew asked hopefully.

“It’s beautiful.” Libby said. In truth it was the most romantic thing anyone had done for her.

“Please, take a seat.” Tentatively, she sat down on the blanket.

Andrew joined her, opening up the basket and withdrawing a bottle opener and two glasses.

“Red or white?” He asked.

“Red, please.”

In the basket there was a small speaker and an IPod. She watched as he plugged it in, intrigued. She wondered what music he would put on, would he put on something romantic and classical, some sexy RnB, or an intense rock jam.

“Who you gonna call! Ghostbusters!”

But it wasn’t any of those. It was the Ghostbusters theme song.

“Sh*t.” He laughed, “I was working out before I got here. Hang on, I had a date playlist ready for us, I swear.” He fiddled with it manically, trying to silence the song which had now reached its second chorus. “The song won’t turn off!”

Libby laughed, “You work out to the Ghostbusters theme song?”

“Yea, it helps me work up a good sweat.” Libby continued to laugh and Andrew growled, “Oh yea, and what do you work out to?”

“You think I work out?” She laughed.

 “Are you sure? You seem to be pretty in shape, you were able to throw me off pretty quickly.” Andrew said, finally changing the song to something a little more fitting. The first song on the playlist was Soul Sanctuary by Prince.

“Fear and anger are great motivators.” Libby responded. “Good choice with the music by the way.”

Andrew laughed uneasily, eager to change the subject from his previous mishap. He dug about in the picnic basket, bringing out a baguette, and a cheese board, a meat plate and a bunch of grapes, all wrapped in cling wrap.

Libby smiled in approval. “Cheese and wine, a girl could sure get used to this type of treatment.”

The next couple of minutes were spent sorting out the food onto paper plates.

“Will it be a total mood killer if I make mine into a sandwich?” Libby asked, watching him delicately place a slick of cheese and ham onto his bread.

“Be my guest,” he responded with a smile, before adding slyly, “We can’t all have my level of sophistication.”

“Hey!” She cried indignantly, “I’m sophisticated! Maybe you’re just not down to earth, all that celebrity treatment has given you a fat head.”

“Says the women who is triple layering her sandwich,” Andrew smiled.

“I’m a librarian. It’s a very calorie consuming profession.”

For a while they enjoyed the silence that came with enjoying the delicious food that had been presented in front of them. Libby smiled, the food silence was the best silence of all and this food was spectacular.

After the initial ravenous hunger had been stated, they both settled into relaxed conversation. “What are you calling yourself anyway?” Libby asked breaking the silence.

“Uh Andrew? Sometimes my mom calls me Andy.”

“Yea, I know your name, I mean what’s that name of your, what was it you called it? Duel identity.”

“You’re suggesting that I need a superhero name.”

“Well yea, if you’re going to dress up as one.” Libby stated, her curiosity genuine. Of course, part of her wanted to poke fun at him, but the costume appeared to have a very specific design, so he must have thought about it at the very least.

“I may have thought of one,” Andrew said, delicately.

“Ha! I knew it.” Libby clenched her fist, “Tell me!”

Andrew folded his arms, “Maybe I don’t want to.”

“Sure you do!”

“I am almost certain that I do not.”

Libby narrowed her eyes and picked up the wine bottle, filling his glass to the top. “Tell. Me.”

“Are you trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me?”

“No, I’m just trying to, you know, lower your inhibitions.” Libby took a sip from her own wine.

“You could provide me a little incentive…” Andrew said, looking her deeply in the eye.

Libby felt herself flush, the comfortable teasing of the previous moment was gone and had been replaced once again with that thick tension. She felt her face grow hot, but she didn’t turn from his gaze.

“What do you want for the information?”

“A kiss…just a peck, I am a gentleman.”

He had leaned closer at this point and Libby was suddenly painfully aware of how close his face was to hers and she could hear his breathing, which had quickened somewhat into a low and breathless pant.

 “Captain Ironchest.” Andrew confessed, pulling away and breaking the tension.

“That is just awful.” Libby almost snapped, sure she was relieved, but she was also disappointed. Dejected she leaned over to give him his kiss, but he turned his head.

“I don’t want it yet.”

“Dude, it’s only a peck.” Libby raised an eyebrow, “I’m not expecting you to wed me.”

“I know. But it is my prize, and I get to choose when I have it. Also, and more importantly,” He lowered his voice, “You didn’t say where.”

His tone of voice had a husky, feral note to it and it sent shivers down Libby’s spine. Still, she wasn’t sure why it affected her so, it was just going to be a peck for goodness sake. Then there was the whole issue of ‘where’ he was going to do it. Libby could think of a few places she’d like Andrew’s mouth, although she wasn’t sure she’d be satisfied with just a kiss.