Madeline couldn't catch her breath as she gazed into his eyes; from beneath her palm, she could feel the intense beating of his heart.
There'd been a time not so long ago when she would have given anything
to hear Jake utter these same incredible words. Now here she was,
struggling for air.
She remembered once, when she and Jake had attended Mass in that
lovely church in Exton, remarking about the beautiful family that had
been seated in front of them-an attractive mother and father probably in
their mid-thirties, with six adorable children. It had been obvious from
their Sunday best attire and joyful exuberance how deeply loved and cared
for these children were; their parents had also displayed a genuine
affection for each other though simple mannerisms and gestures, such as
a touch on the elbow or a knowing glance and smile. Maddy had been
palpably moved by the entire scene.
"Wow Jake, look at them!" she'd whispered. "Isn't that just the
sweetest thing you've ever seen?"
"Yeah, that poor fool," Jake had retorted sarcastically in reference to
the family's father. "He'll be working the rest of his life to feed and clothe
all of those hungry mouths! Better him, than me!"
Maddy recalled the crushing disappointment she'd experienced at his
reaction, which marked the beginning of the end of their rocky
relationship. The mere thought of love had never once echoed through
the tortured chambers of Jake's heart, let alone escape from his lips. And
yes, she and this new man shared an undeniable connection and an
irresistible chemistry, but love? Love? Hadn't this only been their third
date? How could he be so sure, so soon?
Her lack of response had no deleterious effect on Kenny's enthusiasm
or faith.
"Don't worry Madeline Rose, you don't have to say a word right
now," he whispered, gently placing his fingers on her delicate mouth. "I
know you love me, and someday, you'll know it to."
"But Ken, how can you be so confident you love me? You don't even
know me!" Her words were soft, but firm.
"See, there's where you're wrong, sweetheart," he countered
soothingly, before leaning in to taste her intoxicating kiss once more.
Maddy responded with an even greater ferocity as their passion quickly
mounted. His tongue was soft and playful as he sought out hers; his hands
roamed through her satiny hair, caressed her shoulders and traveled down
to her waist.
Temporarily lost in a passionate haze, Maddy undid a few buttons on
Ken's shirt to allow easier access to his broad, rippled chest. She couldn't
get enough of his warmth, his unabashed masculinity as those new and
overwhelming sensations rushed through her body. Ken broke away and
sat up long enough to free himself completely from the garment. Maddy
looked at him with a mixture of awe and fear, fully cognizant of the
dangerous line she was walking between adamant words and instigating
actions.
"It's ok, baby, we won't go any farther than this," he promised in a
husky whisper as he settled carefully back down on top of her. "God,
you're so beautiful," he said again, stroking her face, before they melted
into another spellbinding interlude. Her tiny hands were unbelievably
strong as they massaged his back in circular motions, occasionally
allowing her slender fingers to weave their way through his curly blond
hair.
"You drive me crazy, sweetheart," he sighed. He slowly pulled her
halter top out from the waistband of her shorts and slipped his hand
beneath the knit material. He marveled at the smoothness of her skin as
he moved closer to her breast.
Suddenly Maddy found herself on the living room couch in Jake's
parents' home. They'd just returned from Lily Langtry's, her favorite
dinner theater, where they'd enjoyed an amazing rock 'n roll review and a
fabulous dinner. It was a biting cold night in February, the sort of weather
that was much more conducive to snuggling in front of a fireplace than
getting dressed up for a night on the town. But they'd had a wonderful
date, and as they caught sight of the cozy fire his sleeping Mom and Dad
had left for them, the only thing on their minds was romance. Their
nascent relationship had been moving along swimmingly at that point, the
result of a set-up from family friends.
Madeline had worn an ultra-feminine dress featuring a black velvet
bodice that laced up the front and a floaty, detachable skirt that swirled as
she moved. With her long hair pulled back at the crown with a black bow,
she epitomized the heartbreaking femininity of a Madame Alexander doll.
Jake had noticed, though his somewhat tepid "You look nice,"
compliment hadn't exactly inspired the dialogue of epic love stories.
Nevertheless, Maddy found herself swept away as they began to enjoy
each other's company in the soft glow of firelight. And as their fervor
gradually amplified to a dizzying crescendo, she barely noticed when he
began to untie the ribbons of her dress; before she knew it, she felt her
black lace bra slip away from her shoulders. And then came the rush of
icy cold water.
"Wow, you weren't kidding! You really are small!" he remarked
without a hint of sensitivity as he laid his eyes on her bare chest.
A devastated Maddy quickly put herself back together before
demanding a ride home; although he'd apologized profusely during the
20-minute trip back to Media, she'd been too hurt to even kiss him
goodbye as she raced out of his car and into the comfort of her own bed.
For most women, it would have been enough to end the relationship
immediately; unfortunately, Maddy possessed just a little too much
willingness to forgive and not quite enough love for self at the deepest
core of her being.
"Kenny, no!" she cried out in a piercing voice as she handily pushed
him away from her. She quickly tucked her top back into her waistband as
she sat up in bed.
"Maddy, Maddy, I am so sorry, baby!" His voice was genuinely
apologetic. "I just got caught up in the moment and I guess I couldn't
help myself. I didn't mean to scare or disrespect you, sweetheart, I swear,"
he pleaded, placing an arm around her shoulder and leaning his forehead
gently against hers. "My God, the last thing I want to do is blow it with a
girl like you."
Maddy covered her face with her hands, more embarrassed by her
overreaction than outraged by Ken's completely understandable attempt,
considering they were all alone in his bedroom. She remained quiet while
she tried to gather her composure, wanting so much to find the words to
comfort him, to clarify for him the root cause of her discomfort. But it
was as if the synchronicity between her thoughts and the physical
mechanisms necessary to express them had completely failed her. All she
could do was sit there in silence.
But when Ken finally pulled her into a hug, she didn't resist. Instead,
she buried her head in his chest and muffled an emotional apology.
"Nothing to apologize for, sweetheart," he comforted her. "It's ok.
Everything's ok." His voice was a barely audible whisper as they held each
other in the translucent beam of moonshine streaming from the window
above them.