Elspeth examined herself in the mirror. Were the sweater and the long skirt a bit too much? Should she change into a dress or a lighter blouse and a shorter skirt instead? She decided that she would change the sweater. She didn’t want to feel hot in it.
She quickly changed into a dark red top with three quarter sleeves and a V neckline and a knee length black skirt. Much better, she thought, smiling as she looked at herself again the mirror. She brushed her hair again, checked her face and then left the room, satisfied.
Just then the doorbell rang. Excited, she hurried to answer it. Her heart leapt in her chest when she opened the door and saw Marius standing there. He was wearing a leather jacket over a white top and black pants. He looked gorgeous. She couldn’t stop staring at him and smiling.
“Hi,” she said, sounding a little breathless.
He smiled. “Hi.”
“Come in.”
“These are for you,” he said after she closed the door and was facing him. He held out a bouquet of violets.
Her eyes widened in delight. They were from Visions of Violet, the new flower shop a block away. “They’re gorgeous. Thank you, Marius.”
“I remembered that you said that the violet was your favorite flower.”
She put them down on the table nearby before impulsively reaching up, pulling his head down and kissing him on the mouth. When she drew back, they were both breathing heavily and her face was flushed. “Let-let me take your jacket,” she stammered.
“Thanks.” He removed it and handed it to her, his eyes intent on her flushed face.
She took it from him and hanged in the hall closet before returning to take up the violets from the table. “Make-make yourself at home while I put these in some water.” She took him to the living-room and then continued on to the kitchen.
In the kitchen after putting the violets in water, she leaned against the counter, her heart still beating fast. She could have kissed him on the cheek or hugged him but she kissed him on the mouth because it was something she had wanted to do from the very first moment she saw him. She closed her eyes when she remembered how his lips felt–firm and soft at the same time. Her body was on fire. “Pull yourself together,” she told herself.
In the living-room, Marius stood at the window. He could still feel the impression of her lips on his. She pulled away before he had a chance to kiss her back and he had wanted to so badly. “Take it easy,” he muttered under his breath. “She invited you for dinner. Just keep it at that.”
He glanced over his shoulder when she walked into the living-room, carrying the violets in a crystal vase which she set in the middle of the coffee table. “Perfect,” she said as she stood back to admire them. “They add more color to the room and they smell great too. Thanks, Marius.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Dinner is ready. Have a seat at the table while I get everything ready.”
He sat at the table and watched as she brought the salad in, followed by a bottle of non-alcoholic wine which he poured out while she brought in a plate of dinner rolls with butter. After saying, Grace, they tucked into the Greek salad. “This is delicious,” he remarked.
She smiled. “Thank you. It was a toss up between a Green salad and a Greek Salad. After much deliberation, I settled for Greek.”
After they finished the salad, she brought out the main course which was, Cod au Gratin served over rice and green peas on the side. It smelled and tasted really, really good. As they talked, she asked him if he was looking forward to his first week back to university which was next week.
“Yes, I am. I like going to Cambridge.”
“I liked going to Oxford too. I enjoyed learning new things and studying for exams.”
“Do you miss Oxford?”
“I did initially but I don’t anymore. I enjoy having a career. After you graduate from Cambridge and find a job, will you ever consider modelling again?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. It’s just something I do over the summer to earn money to help to pay for my tuition. When I find a job, I wouldn’t need to model anymore.”
“Do you think you’ll miss it?”
“Yes, a little. I met a lot a really nice people in the industry. I will probably keep in touch with most of them.”
They talked about other things. “Do you have room for dessert?”
He smiled and nodded, patting his stomach. “Yes, I do.”
After he helped her to clear the table, they retired to the living-room where they enjoyed a slice each of the Banoffee Pie she baked just hours before he arrived for dinner.
“Thanks for dinner, Elspeth,” he said as they had their after dinner coffee. “I really enjoyed it.”
She smiled, pleased. “I’m happy to hear that.”
“You’re an excellent cook. My mother used to stress how important it was for a woman to know how to cook even if she didn’t plan to get married and have a family. She ought to know how to take care of herself. She believed in men learning how to cook to and so, she taught me how to.”
“Were you and your mother close?”
“Yes. We were very close.”
“I guess you still miss her a lot.”
“Yes, I do.”
“While she was alive, was she able to taste your cooking?”
He smiled. “Yes, she did. For her birthday, I prepared her favorite dish, Pollo Guisado, braised chicken.”
“And?”
“She couldn’t stop raving about it.”
Elspeth laughed. “I hope I get to sample your cooking one of these days.”
His expression grew serious. “I hope so too.
Unable to resist, she reached out, cupped his face between her hands and kissed him. This time, he responded and the next moment, he was lying on his back on the sofa and she was on top of him as they exchanged passionate kisses. Their bodies were on fire.
When she felt his hands under her top and on her bare skin, it drove her wild with desire and pulling away from him, she stood up and reaching down, she grabbed his hands and yanked him to his feet. Gripping his hand, she pulled him behind her and towards her bedroom. As soon as they got there, their clothes were quickly and frantically discarded.
She pushed Marius down on the bed and covered every inch of his body with ravenous kisses, driving him wild. Titus and what she was doing to him, to their relationship were the farthest things on her mind. Desire for Marius consumed her. She made love to him wildly and with total abandon. His feverish moans and groans mingled with hers as their merged bodies undulated in the light streaming through the window.
Posted for October 2020 Writing Prompts – #2 – Visions of Violet
Notes to Women 