* * *
When they finally arrived at the pier, Madeline was grateful for the
opportunity to get out and walk, hoping a stroll in the night air would
help her regain her composure. Mark pulled out two dollars and paid the
clerk at the pier entrance. Taking her by the hand, he led her through the
gate. The pier loomed ahead, stretching out expansively into the ocean. A
gleaming full moon above touched the water with its brilliance while the
stars above winked at determined fishermen positioned along the railway.
Mark and Madeline paused to take in a view of the coastline upon
reaching the end. In the distance, the high rises along the beach spread
out magically, as though a backdrop for an enchanted storybook land.
"I love it out here," she explained. "When I first moved down I used
to come here two to three times a week after work. But since I moved a
little further west it hasn't been as convenient. I need to make the time,
though, because I forget about everything when I'm out here. I suppose I
should thank Ken in way. If it weren't for him, I might never have moved
to such a magnificent state. Maybe that was his real purpose in my life."
Having decided to drop the pretenses, Maddy had come clean with
him about her real motivation for moving somewhere between Palmetto
Park Road and Hillsboro Boulevard during the short ride over.
"Whatever the reason, I am glad you are here," Mark whispered
hoarsely, pulling her close to him. His spicy cologne mingled with the
salty sea air. As he drew her into another passionate kiss, she ran her
fingers through his hair and stood up on her toes to reach him. The kiss
would have gone on indefinitely if not for the shouts of approaching
teenagers; the vibrations caused by their running shoes hitting the boards
created a striking contrast to the romantic interlude.
"I guess we should be moving along," Mark said, still holding his
arms around her.
"I guess so," she agreed, wishing the night would never end.
They were halfway to the beach when Mark sat down on an empty
bench, situating Madeline on his lap as he did so. Once settled, his lips
sought hers demandingly, while his hands kneaded her back, moving from
her waist to her shoulders. Fastening her arms around his neck, she tried
to lose herself in the moment. Yet inner turmoil prevented her from fully
dissolving. Can someone like me handle a man ten years older than me with infinitely
more life experience? Will he have the patience to take things slowly?After all, it hadn't been that long since Ken had broken her heart. And
as much as she loved Florida, moving so far from family had been a big
adjustment. True, she'd made friends along the way, but she wasn't quite
ready to risk another heart-break. As if jolted back to reality, she abruptly
released her mouth from his. He looked up at her questioningly.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she whispered. "Could you just hold me for a minute?"
"Sure," he complied, wrapping his arms around her. She rested her
head against his chest, relishing the warmth of his body as he kissed her
forehead.
"You're a very warm person, aren't you?" he whispered, burying his
head in her hair.
"I suppose I am," she agreed, raising her head to look up at him.
"You seem to be the same way."
He gazed into the depths of her brown eyes, noticing that she seemed
completely unaware of their bewitching allure. Why was he so completely taken
with this new woman so soon? And how was it she was able to make him
forget all about Gina and her possible whereabouts for the first time since
their break-up? All he wanted to do at this very moment was act upon the
burning impulses he felt for Madeline-to sweep her away and show her
how truly desirable she was. Instead, he answered her statement with a
powerful, wet kiss that left them both nearly breathless until she suddenly
broke away again.
Moving to the rail, she closed her eyes, savoring the rush of wind
through her hair.
"Did I do something wrong?" She felt his hot breath on her neck and
turned to face him again.
"No, Mark. Of course not," she whispered. Actually the problem is that
everything you are doing to me feels too good. "It's just that…well, I-I was hoping
I wouldn't have to deal with this so soon, but the way things are heating
up here, I don't think I have a choice."
"What is it?" he asked, as he smoothed her hair with his hands. He
couldn't imagine what could possibly be so terrible that she felt compelled
to interrupt such a pleasant activity. Knowing instinctively that Madeline
wasn't the typical self-absorbed "Boca babe," he was truly puzzled.
Besides, he'd seen and heard it all in his fifteen years of living here; there
was nothing a sweet, girl-next-door-type like her could confess that would
shock him, though he was duly impressed by the passion she'd
demonstrated this evening.
"Mark, I've never really been with a man in the Biblical sense. I know
it sounds far-fetched, given that I am twenty-eight years-old, but it's true.
As much as I loved Ken dearly, I wanted to wait-hopefully until the day
we got married. And he was really good about it, although I felt like it was
asking too much of him, even though, damn it, I just plain wanted to-
wanted to satisfy my own curiosity. But I could never let it happen. Soon
after, he disappeared from my life and I felt that somehow I was being
punished even though I'd done the right thing."
As she spoke, she held her head against his chest, staring out at the
beach, yet not really focusing her vision on anything. Baring her soul to a
man she'd only known a week was a thousand times more intimate than
anything they'd done thus far; it seemed safer not to make eye contact.
She was painfully embarrassed by her naiveté, but it was too late to turn
back now. And when Mark just continued to silently hold her, she
continued.
"As you know, I also had the Catholic upbringing, close family, all of
that thank God. My parents are wonderful, fun-loving people, but they do
have very high moral standards. From the time I was old enough to
understand, I was told that sex was something reserved for marriage. Of
course, that was all I was told. Any other information came either from
my school friends or soap operas. I felt so guilty when Ken and I would
get into these very intimate situations.
"But at least it was a long-term relationship; one I thought would lead
to marriage, and our eventual union in every sense of the word. Anyway,
unfairly or not, my Mom was not a big fan of his in the beginning, which
almost ended things before they even got started. And then we moved
beyond that and into what I thought was a lifetime relationship. To this
day, she has no idea I moved here to be with him. Guess it doesn't matter
now."
"So she assumes you're still a-"
"I guess so," Madeline finished the thought for him. "We never talk
about it. Sort of an unspoken understanding we have. I know that when
compared to most people my age, I'm a late-bloomer. And Ken has hurt
me so badly it may take me a while to trust someone enough to ever give
myself away like that at all. Are you disappointed?"
Mark, who'd listened intently, wrapped her up in his arms as a
quickening wind began to envelop them. She was so vulnerable, so
beautiful, it almost broke his heart. While he wanted her so badly he
couldn't see straight, he also felt an uncontrollable desire to protect her;
she possessed an angelic quality that melted his heart. He only hoped he
could live up to her expectations.
"If you are asking to move slowly, that's fine with me. I mean, don't
get me wrong, I'd like nothing better than to go back to your place and
make wild, passionate love to you all night. But I understand where you're
coming from. I've been celibate for a long time myself….not as long as
you, though!" he added. They both laughed.
"So, you're willing to give this a try? I won't make you wait forever; I
just need a little time."
"It's ok," he assured her, hoping he'd be able to fulfill his promise.