"Your home is, well it's a bit magical." Ezra said. It was small. So small. But it was decorated nicely and very clean. The outdoor space was cozy and the lights and fire made the small area look larger as they sat and looked out into the desert view behind it.
"Thank you." Billie said, blushing.
"And these chicken enchiladas. Oh my god. Best I've ever eaten." Ezra said. And he wasn't lying. Warmed up food was not something he had eaten often but these really were delicious. Even at one in the morning.
"I'm glad. Sorry it's so late, you should have ordered something from the restaurant." Billie said.
"No way. I'm glad I didn't. Now I know that you are an excellent cook, I will have to visit you more often for a home cooked meal." He said, taking the last bite and smiling.
"More wine?" She asked.
"Yes. Please." He said. It wasn't the kind of wine he normally drank. Far from it. It was a Pinot noir, maybe 10 or 15 dollars a bottle, but for the price, it was tolerable. Being near her made it better, anyway.
She came back with another bottle and poured him a glass. He looked around at the lights and fireplace and the hot-tub. He chuckled a little to himself. A modular home, I never thought I'd say this but, I like it here, he thought. It was warm and cozy. Not like the pristine, sterile, cold and empty and massive homes he had known all of his life. This felt like a home. Where are you from?" She asked Ezra. He wasn't prepared for the question so he answered honestly.
"I was born in Austria. But I have a house here in Tucson." He said.
"Wow. Austria. I'd love to visit there someday."
Billie said, wistfully.
I'd love to take you there, he thought. What was coming over him when it came to this woman? He had never felt so desirous and protective of anyone before. He felt like he wanted to give her the world and he barely knew her.
"Yes. Lovely place I hear." He said. Get yourself together, he thought.
"Are your parents German?" She asked.
"My father was Italian and my mother, Syrian. Her father was half German, half Syrian and her mother, Syrian." He explained. He hoped he wasn't giving too much information. He still didn't want her to know he was a rich man. A very, very rich man. Not yet, anyway.
"Ah, so that's where the dark and mysterious genes come from." She said.
He laughed. "Do I give off that vibe?" He asked.
"Come on, you may be the most aesthetically appealing human currently walking the earth. And I'm not exaggerating that, even a little. I don't know what you do for a living, but you should quit right now and get some head shots taken and practice your runway walk because you should be a model." She said, smiling but very serious. It was odd to him, hearing her talk to him that way. It was genuine compliment. Sure, many women had told him that, but usually when they did, their hands were trailing soon after to try get in his pants or wallet. She was just having a natural conversation with him and he loved it.
"Thank you. I will have to look into that." He said, deadpan. She let out a laugh.
"You know, I like your sense of humor. Kind of dry and a bit arrogant. But not in a bad way. You carry yourself like you have something to be arrogant about. Like you really are better than most." She said. He looked down.
"I don't mean to come off that way, I apologize." He said. He hated that he stood out sometimes.
"Listen. If I looked like you, I probably would too. And add to it how intelligent, kind and good you seem to be. You definitely have a reason to be. Unlike these other men I see around me peacocking with no real reason." She said.
"Peacocking? Brilliant. Love that." He said, heartily laughing.
"Well, it's true. We all laugh at gilded butterflies." She said, sipping her wine.
"I imagine King Lear may have been onto something there." He said with a smile. She had quoted Shakespeare. She had an immense intellect and natural talent, and wasn't boastful in anyway about it. She was the opposite with her humble demeanor and kind heart. It was appealing, quite.
She stood up and walked to the slider to go back inside. He had this overwhelming urge to touch her, to kiss her. He got up and followed her, grabbing her arm and turning her to look at him.
She was so beautiful, her eyes so soft and kind yet hiding so much. Her skin was a beautiful peach shade and her hair was the color of mahogany and a soft night sky. He liked her blonde too, like the picture, but this, her in these lights, she looked like a goddess. A raven haired, goddess. He took her face in his hands and looked at her. Studied her. There was nothing fake about her. Very little makeup. All the women he was used to being around wore tons of it. They had fake lips and lashes and noses. But not her. Fine lines around her eyes made him think she was near or over 35. But she looked much younger. She was naturally gorgeous.
"You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." He said, looking into her eyes. And he meant it.
"I, I... " she started to say but he cut her off with a kiss. A passionate and deep kiss. His stomach was in knots and he was trembling, shaking. He was embarrassed because he knew she could feel it.
His entire body felt like it was on fire. He wanted her.
She stopped him, pulling back and putting her hand on her mouth. "I'm sorry, I'm... I'm not in a good place for this right now. It is nothing you did wrong, it's... it's me and I just, well, there's a lot of damage in my past, things that you wouldn't want to hear and I don't know that I wanna get into it right now. I'm so sorry." She was clearly shaken up and he had hoped felt the intensity between them like he did.
"It is alright. It's ok." He said, trying to comfort her. It was ok but he felt entirely different.
He didn't want to stop. This was the first time he had ever wanted to be touched by a woman and to have a woman touch him, in that way, without it feeling dirty or cheap or forced. It was also the first time he had ever been turned down by a woman. He was always the one stopping them. They knew he had money, they were after him for his looks, and were all over him. But this woman was denying him and stopping him. It was the first time he had experienced that and the first time he had wanted the opposite.
They stood there in silence for a moment. She seemed embarrassed, maybe even remorseful about stopping. He knew a little about her past but she was unaware of that. He knew why she had stopped. What did he do to you? This Sean? He thought.
"If it's alright with you, I would like to just maybe... hold you for awhile." He said shyly, breaking the awkwardness between them.
She looked up at him and smiled. "Alright." She said. She took his hand and lead him down a hall and to a small bedroom. She leaned down and took her shoes off.
"I'll be back." She said and walked into the bathroom. He took his shirt off and his jeans and sat on the bed. This was all so odd to him, but it felt good to not be alone, for once. He felt good being there. She came out in a cotton nightgown. She had amazing legs. They were short but strong and her body was the epitome of an hourglass. He liked that she wasn't stick thin and obsessed with being her weight. She ate food. She had curves and an ass like he'd never seen. Natural and round and perfect. She walked to the bed and nuzzled in next to him as he laid back onto the pillows. He took her into his arms and held her, silently, until they both fell asleep.