Turn Me Bad

Chapter 4

They pulled up outside of the Best Western. Benjamin asked her if she wanted to go to the bar, but Violet suggested they go to his room instead. She didn’t want to share him with whoever happened to be there. The evening would soon draw to a close and, if there was to be a moment, it was time to seize it.

As with almost everything else, Benjamin seemed so laid back about what was happening, showing no sign of awkwardness once they entered the room even though there was now a massive question mark over what they were doing.

He had promised not to try anything with her, while she had asked that they be alone; there was a contradiction there somewhere that had to be answered. If he wanted her, he showed no desperation to take his opportunity, pouring them both a glass of whisky (from his own supply), opening a window and lighting a cigarette. He said nothing, for the first time not even looking at her, as he blew his smoke out into the night sky.

What Violet did next might have suggested a sudden confidence she never knew she had, or else it might all have been Benjamin’s doing. Maybe he knew exactly how to treat women and get them to want him, without appearing to put any effort in whatsoever. Cool and casual as with everything else, but right then Violet didn’t care. She was not laid back about their close proximity and the whole evening had been one constant build-up of fascination and curiosity. She no longer felt like the timid creature that had dared set foot in the bar where they had met for the sake of looking like she might have a life. Her straight-laced, down-to-earth thinking had ebbed away a piece at a time and she found the nerve to do something spontaneous.

Turning the light off got his attention. There was enough light coming in from the window for them to see each other anyway, but it was a statement of intent. As she stepped lightly towards him then, she could feel her arms and legs were trembling, but it mattered not. All the confidence she had was not in herself but in him. His luring her there might have looked effortless, but she wanted to see the passion burst forth from within that cool demeanor and to become its focus.

Neither of them had any words to say as she approached and, pausing only to look into his eyes before closing hers and falling into him, they kissed. He put his hands on her waist then and their bodies pressed against each other. They had been pressed close together before on the bike, but this time she could feel the warmth of his chest and his heart beating, and she knew he could feel hers as it quickened and turned her breathing into gasps.

She had to pull away then. Slightly – just to catch her breath – but she found herself saying his name.

”Benjamin?”

There was a question there, though rather than waiting for him to answer she only put her lips back on his.

“What?“ he asked, when briefly they came apart again.

“Why… why me?”

“What do you mean?“ he asked, moving his lips to her neck so she could speak and lifting his right hand up to stroke her hair. That was supposed to be helpful, but when she opened her mouth to reply she only found herself moaning out as if they were far further along with what they were doing. With the window open, it was likely that sound echoed across the entire parking lot, and she could not be confident in containing her desire enough to ensure it didn’t happen again.

*****

When Violet woke up, she found that she was alone.

Benjamin had left and taken all his belongings. Leaving only the hotel key on the table which presumably meant she had to check out at the desk rather than just leave.

Men having their way then not looking back is a story every beautiful girl is familiar with – and if not, it is only a matter of time. Violet was not that surprised, having even thought it likely their love would turn out to be a one-night stand as she had jumped into bed with him.

At the same time, being realistic about the whole whirlwind of an evening did not stop her feeling the sting of disappointment. It wasn’t that she expected Benjamin to get down on his knees and propose, but did he really need to have gone through the whole sneaking out act? She hadn’t given him any impression of clinginess or expectation, had deliberately not even pried into what he did or where he came from so as not to give such an impression. Because of this, she had been optimistic they’d at least wake up together and that maybe they could share an embrace and a kiss before she watched him ride off into the distance. A sweet goodbye to a man who was worth remembering. Ships that pass in the night that have no reason to let the rest of their miserable lives ruin the encounter they were lucky enough to experience.

It hadn’t seemed like a far-fetched hope. The man she slept naked alongside had been laid back about everything else; as a result, it was difficult to imagine him tiptoeing about trying not to wake her.

Then again, they had used up a wealth of sexual energy. Maybe she had just slept through his exit. But couldn’t he have kissed her on the cheek and whispered goodbye, or left a note with a poor excuse about having to leave?

Doing the stereotypical man thing was a little uncalled for in her book and, as wonderful as the night had been, dragging herself out of bed and of the hotel made her a little grumpy.