Read Online Dark Creations: The Hunted (Part 4) by Jennifer Martucci, Christopher Martucci - Free Book Online

going.
    “I’m glad too, Gabriel,” Melissa said and rested her hand on his knee.
    From her gesture, he suddenly realized that perhaps humiliation suited him.  He smiled at her and placed his hand atop hers then took a large gulp of his wine.  The alcohol did precious little to calm his raging pulse.  It pounded so loudly, he felt it in his temples.  He worried that, with her hand on his leg, she could feel the blood racing through his veins as his heart pumped thunderously.  If he did not get control of himself fast, he would surely hyperventilate.  He took several deep breaths and hoped she didn’t notice then he looked at her.  She looked exquisite.  Her dress showed off her neck and shoulders, and her legs.  Her skin was pale and soft, a departure from the angry red or leathered brown he usually saw on the girls at the lake, and whatever lotion she had used shimmered slightly in the light.  She smelled like cookie dough, sweet and sugary.  Her hair was pulled up away from her face with just a few errant strands that fell in waves.  He wanted to kiss her exposed sweet-smelling neck.  
    Gabriel finished his glass of wine and poured another.
    “Wow, I’ve never seen you drink so much.  I guess I’ll call a cab or something later.”
    “Or you could just spend the night here,” he suggested as he stared at his wineglass.
    Gabriel was stunned by his own proposal; that he’d managed to actually suggest she spend the night with him without passing out.  He guessed that any second, she would slap him for his impudence.  Several seconds passed and her small hand had not stuck him.  He was surprised as she seemed to consider staying as an option.
    “Isn’t Yoshi coming back?” she asked.
    “He’s doing laundry and seeing a late movie, and spending the night at a motel.”
    “Oh, so we have the whole place to ourselves, all night?”
    Outwardly Melissa was the picture of calm, but something in her eyes betrayed her.  He saw it briefly, a spark of sorts, a look that could only be described as happiness, and mischief.  His heart raced dangerously.
    “Yes, if you like.”
    “Well, it seems as though my designated driver has bailed on me, so I may not have a choice.”
    “Melissa if you’re worried about getting home, I’ll stop drinking right now and in a few hours, I’ll be fine to take you home.  Or I’ll call a cab when you’re ready and ride with you if you prefer,” he panicked.
    “Gabriel, I was joking,” she said and moved her hand from his leg to his arm.
    “Oh, okay,” he sighed, relieved.  “I don’t want you to feel pressured or anything.”
    “Pressured?” she asked with genuine confusion.
    “Yes.  I don’t want you to feel like I’m pressuring you to do something you’re, you know, not ready to do, or don’t want to do,” he tried to explain.
    “Gabriel, we’ve been going out for almost a year now and the most we’ve done is kiss.  Trust me, I don’t feel pressured.”
    “You’re sure?”
    “Uh, yeah, I’m totally sure,” she said.  He couldn’t help but feel he was missing some key piece of their conversation.  Her response was so confident, so finite.  He guessed there was more to her statement that he did not get.  His bafflement must have been written on his face because she qualified her answer.
    “Other guys our age would not have been as patient as you,” she began.  “They would expect stuff on the first date.  To them it would be dinner, movie, sex.  Period.  And in some cases, it would be meet at a club, next meeting, sex.  Do you get what I’m saying?”
    “I guess.  But I really don’t see how dinner and a movie even implies that ,” he said.   “How exactly, does going out with a girl you like translate into sex afterward?”
    “I have no idea really.  I think some guys feel that if they pay for a girl’s meal and movie ticket that he’s entitled to grope her.”
    “Entitled?  Really?  That doesn’t even make