Waves Of Passion

“I want to know you,” she finally said after an eternity of silence. “I want to know the real you and not the Justin Frank I see every single day. I always see the brand.”

She put her hand on his chest.

“I want to know the man inside here,” she said in a soft voice. “The man who loves surfing and riding the wild waves. The man who does not take pride in being in the public eye…I don’t want the celebrity. I want simple old Justin.”

He nodded and kissed her again before he pulled away.

“Simple old Justin, huh?” he asked and she nodded. “Alright. Would you like some tea? Or maybe a hot chocolate?”

A smile played on her lips.

“You are in my apartment. Shouldn’t I be the one offering you something to drink?” she asked and he shrugged.

“The real Justin Frank…the man not the celebrity loves being hospitable even when it is not my place to do so.”

She smiled.

“Shouldn’t I maybe give you a tour of the premises?” she asked. “Even though there isn’t really much to tour. I mean, if this room were any smaller I would probably be able to touch all four walls from one position.”

Justin smiled.

“You should have seen the place I had in France. It made a bathroom cubicle look bigger and better than your worst nightmare of a home,” he said and she smiled.

“Okay, I don’t know whether that makes me feel better or sorry for you.” She looked around and sighed. “That’s the living room, my kitchen over there and down the hall is the bathroom and my room. It’s kind of like Penny’s place on The Big Bang Theory. A cleaner version of it at least.”

He laughed as they walked to the kitchen.

“So, you are a Big Bang Theory fan, huh?” he asked and she exhaled in excitement.

“Die hard fan.” She took two cups and put them on the counter as he put the kettle on the stove. “I have binge watched season after season on Netflix for God knows how many times.”

“I think like you, I have also enjoyed my own long nights of binge watching Chuck Lorre’s work,” he said as she got the whipped cream, and a packet of half and half from the fridge.

She looked at him, smiling. Normally, she met people who hated sitcoms. She always met the people who were more into long hours of David Cameron, not that she had anything against his films, it was just that she had settled a little too much. It couldn’t hurt to meet one person who had the same interests as she did.

The night was amazing. Not just because Justin made the best hot chocolate she had ever had but also because he listened to her. He paid attention to what she said. He was actually genuinely interested in what she had to say. Something she never felt with Allan. It was not just all about taking her to bed and using her in every way the Kamasutra dictated. With Justin, she could feel a deeper connection. A better connection even.

As she sat next to him sipping on her hot chocolate while watching the fourth season of Two and a Half Men, she could not believe that she was actually sitting next to the man she had fantasized about for so long.

“What?” he asked when he noticed her looking at him, her cheeks a little flushed.

She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just stoked that you are here. That’s all.”

“Good, because I am stoked too,” he said in a soft voice. “And I really hope you like Italian.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because that is what we are going to have tomorrow night. I know of this place downtown, perfect rolled flank steak. Apparently some old family recipe,” he said and she smiled.

“I love rolled flank steak. Especially Italian,” she said as she looked into his eyes.

“Good,” he said in a soft voice.

*****

When Justin finally woke up, it was almost three in the morning. And he was still seated on Eliza’s couch, with the TV still on. He looked at Eliza who was asleep, leaning on his shoulder. He wanted to stay longer at least until she woke up but he had an early morning. And being there with her was not helping. As he looked at her chest rise and fall with every breath she took, he could feel himself getting aroused. He wanted to take her and claim her. He could not help but wonder how someone so beautiful and so innocent could ever be so heavy hearted. Or maybe the bigger wonder was how anyone could ever hurt someone like her. He had noticed that she did not want to talk about the man who had been on her case at the beach the night of the party but at the same time, he did not want to push her. He wanted her to talk about her past when she was well and ready. He gently held her head and pulled her away supporting her head as he gently readied a cushion. He then lowered her head slowly until her head rested on the small pillow. He then pulled a blanket over her and switched off the TV. He wanted so much to leave but he did not want to be rude either. He was having a hard time deciding what to do but after a long time, he decided to stay. After all, he needed to make sure that the house was secure before he left. It was the responsible thing to do.

He had planned on leaving as soon as she woke up but when she woke up and saw him there, he did not have the heart to leave.

“Good morning,” she said in a groggy voice.

“Good morning.”

“You stayed over.”

He smiled and nodded.

“I did. I didn’t want to wake you up and I also didn’t want to leave the house unlocked. I mean a young beautiful woman living alone…who knows the kind of weirdos roaming the streets nowadays?” he asked and she laughed.

“I must have been more tired than I thought,” she said. “This two job thing is no joke.”

“Yeah, you passed out almost immediately after we began watching TV.”

“Come on, I watched at least two episodes.”

“Yeah and then I cracked a joke but you were out cold,” he said as she pulled herself up to a sitting position.

“I’m sorry I held you hostage,” she said and he shook his head as he moved closer to her.

“I was happy to stay over.” He reached out and held her cheek. “You look even more beautiful when you sleep.”