Confounded: Part I - 13. Chapter 13

He dropped me off at the entrance of my apartment complex and then walked me all the way up to my door, taking my keys as if he'd been living here for ages. For a minute there, I thought he'd precede me inside, but I underestimated him; he courteously handed back the keys. Old fashioned manners. He remained standing where he was, and leaned against the door post, shaking his head when I opened the door further, the invite obvious.

"So...did you enjoy yourself, today?"

"I did," I answered promptly. And I had!

"Enough to repeat it tomorrow?"

"Umm...I thought the deal was four dates? Four weekends? I kinda have to, don't I?"
I snickered.

"Forget the deal; that was just an excuse to get to know you. I think you know that. One day isn't nearly enough, but I already know that I'm attracted to you, and wanna get to know you a lot better. I want more than just a couple of dates."
He was so damn honest that it was getting scary.

"Mitchell..."

"Am I too direct?"

No...yes! Christ, how do you react to this; it made me instantly nervous again. Jerk. We'd been moving nicely, maybe a bit faster than I'm used to, but that was to be expected with him, I knew now.

"N-no," I stammered. "So..."

"So the deal's off. I'm asking if you are attracted to me, too, and do this without that; to get to know each other normally, without an obligation."

Right; put me on the spot like that, why don't you? I guess he knew what I was thinking because he grinned attractively. Unfair!

"I'm trying to find out if you're open to it. Maybe you're not looking for something like this, or maybe you're not attracted; or find me not attractive..."

I think he knew full well that I found him attractive. And not just physically. Today I'd seen...quite a guy.

"Honestly," I cut in, "I think you're very attractive."

He was dominating, which attracted me. I dunno why; maybe I was looking for a father figure. I didn't know the psychological bull behind all of it. I do know that a gentle guy is completely wrong for me; I get the upper hand then and that's the beginning of the end. I kinda like to be handled a bit more roughly, and not just sexually. Although...

But it wasn't just that; he'd shown a lot of himself today, sometimes not even realizing it, and I liked what I saw.

"Including the fact that I have a son?"

Only now, and for the first time, did he appear to be uncertain. Strangely enough, I felt more certain now that I had told him I felt drawn to him.

"Including, yes."

"Are you sure? More than once I've put time and effort into a relationship, only to find out that they wanted something else, and definitely not a kid. And they never even met Kit. We're a package deal..."
I nodded.
"I'm taking a huge risk..."
I continued nodding.
"If you're toying with me..."

Then he'd probably kill me; yes, I got it. I wasn't even entertaining the thought of toying with him about that, and wasn't in the least intimidated by the stormy look he sent me, putting threat into his voice when he said that last bit.

"So you'll come, tomorrow?"

"Yes, sheesh! What does a guy have to do to get a goodnight kiss around here?!"

If he made up his mind already, I'd at least get the chance to control some of the nerves that were shooting through me ever since the start of this late-night surprise. Instead, he was just standing there. These kinds of conversations; it was way too early for them in any relationship. Even so, he'd already gotten me; he was so completely different, privately.

He softly began to laugh; then he pulled me closer and tilted my head with his hands, and kissed me hungrily, showing more passion in that one kiss than he had the entire night.

I was still weak in the knees, supported only by the wall, with a couple of throbbing lips, while he'd disappeared at least fifteen minutes ago.

Brutal.

Yum!

**********

The phone rang. The thing rambled incessantly on the night stand, close to the alarm that showed it was 6am. What idiot was calling me at this hour?!

"Mmm?" I growled, my face buried into the pillow, the receiver half covering my ear.

"So what'll you have for breakfast?"
Mitchell?

"A baseball bat and your head, in that order," I yawned, chagrined.

"That doesn't really sound like a healthy combination."

"Sounds fine to me."

"Do you know you're a regular sunshine in the morning?"

"What do you mean ‘morning'? It's the middle of the night, ya dope!"

"Oh, quit your whining. Come on, get up; I'll be there shortly, to pick you up."

"Funny, that. Listen; bed. Warm. Warm bed. Me and warm bed? Very good combo."
My brain definitely hadn't joined the world so the words weren't coming all that coherently yet.

"Nice try; I'll just ring until you open the door."

He hung up. Now where was that baseball bat?