Stolen Innocence Read online

  "I am so sorry!" I say, as I continue to wipe the water off the front of his suit. All of the sudden I realize I'm rubbing the front of his now-hard slacks. When I comprehend what I am doing, I stop mid wipe. Oh, my God. What the hell did I just do? I bite my bottom lip, slowly looking up with my eyes before my head follows.

  "Well, hello to you too. I like the way you greet people. Or is it just me you greet this way?" he says, as he smiles and chuckles, showing off that dimpled, panty-dropping smile. I lift the towel up to my nose and smell, not even thinking what I am doing. Gio, Shit, I just had this on his, his, shit, he probably thinks I am smelling his erection! shit, could this be any more embarrassing?

  "I am so sorry! I guess I'm just a little jumpy. This is my first time running down here. I had my music up so loud I…"

  "It's my fault for coming up behind you," he states. "I've been looking for you, and I…"

  "Again, I'm sorry…I have to go." My heart is pounding, I feel light headed and I can't catch my breath, this can't just be from running, shit what is this? is it him? this happened yesterday when he caught me, I have to get away from him, why does he effect me this way? With that, I take off running again. I hear him calling out to me, but I just can't think when I'm around him.

  I run up the stairs to my apartment, opening the door quickly. After I close the door and lock it, I turn and slide down the door as I put my head into my hands I take the towel putting it to my face again and inhaling deeply. What the hell is going on? I'm never klutzy. I sit for a few minutes before getting to my feet I place the towel on the sofa and walk into the bathroom to take a cold shower.

  Run In With Water

  Ian

  That's my girl; I would know that backside anywhere. How did I get so lucky? I love that she is dancing around, not caring what anyone around her thinks. I haven't been able to get her out of my mind, I couldn't even concentrate on my meeting last night, not to mention I couldn't sleep, my mind racing with thoughts of her beautiful blue eyes.

  I walk up to her and tap her on her shoulder. I don't expect her to flinch, effectively spraying the contents of the water bottle on me. I am shocked as the water hits me. She turns around and sees the liquid running down my face and body and immediately whips out a towel, frantically trying to wipe it off. God, she's funny, cracking a joke about a wet t-shirt contest, I can hear her apologizing, but I am distracted by... She fascinates me, and as her hand moves lower and lower, I become conscious that she's heading for my cock. I wait for her to realize.

  She's rubbing my cock, and now it wants to come out and play. I think she comprehends what she is doing because she stops mid wipe. Oh my God, did she just smell the towel that she wiped my cock with? God, that's hot. Shit, not only did she wake up my cock, she's biting that scrumptious full bottom lip. I want to bite it too. I don't mind sharing.

  "Well, hello to you too. I like the way you greet people. Or is it just me you greet this way?" I'm such a smart ass, I think to myself, but she blushes so easily, and I love it when she does. I throw a smile at her just to make her squirm a little more.

  She cuts me off and takes off running again. What is it with her? I lose all train of thought around her, and what's with her always running away from me? I’m going to start getting a complex.

  Chapter 6

  Bridget's Weekend

  Parker

  Bridget arrived at the apartment late afternoon on Friday. She helped me finish getting my apartment put together, not that I had a lot to put away, but at least I got rid of the boxes. We grab the boxes, taking them to the dumpster, breaking them down as we dispose of them in the recycling bin. "I can't believe we are graduating this year, it hasn't been that long ago the you first moved in down the road from me." I say

  "Well, It's not like the city where down the road is only a couple houses, we live a mile away from each other."

  Yeah, but at least we had our horses, we could ride to each others houses. Do you remember 4-H? I thought is was so much fun going to the fair and showing our horses, who would have thought we could play with our horses and get paid for it. I say as I reminisce of my childhood. "We were inseparable if it wasn't horses it was softball. I really loved to play softball, I wish I could have played in high school."

  "Why didn't you? you could have received a scholarship to college."

  "Because I had to be realistic, I needed to focus on my education in high school I knew I could get scholarships with my grades, but I really want to get in and out of college as quick as possible, I'm not looking at getting a degree in five years, I want it in three years, I can do that if I can focus just on school. It's going to be hard, this will be my first year not playing club ball in the summer, and I already miss it."

  "Are you going to be able to go camping this summer with us?" Bridget asks. I have gone with her family camping for several summer, and they always went to the same place on the Metolius River. It was a great escape. I loved the area where we would camped. I'd never seen anything so beautiful before. I felt free, I could breathe, and I could finally relax.

  "I doubt it. With taking summer college courses and work, I don't think I am going to have the time."

  "God! I hate growing up!" Bridget says as she laughs.

  We stroll to the waterfront where the tents for the festival are going up. "It is so pretty down here at night," I say there is a light breeze coming from the Willamette River picking up the aromas of the food cart venders.

  "It really is. I guess I really haven't been down here in the evening to look at everything. I love the lights on the bridges; the reflection of the different colored lights on the water almost makes it magical."

  "Well, coming from you, that must mean you are feeling better about me living down here."

  "Okay, okay, I'll give you that. This could be a very romantic place to live."

  "Do you want to find a food cart for dinner?" I ask.

  "I've never done that before. I'm excited to see what kinds of food they have down here."

  "I understand they have all types. I think it's going to be fun trying all the different food types. There is no better place to step outside of the food box than in Portland."

  We walk to where the food carts are. "Wow! Look at all of them!" Bridget says. "They are everywhere, rows and rows of them."

  "What are you going to get?" I ask.

  "I think I am going to get a falafel, but I think I am going to try it with chicken and not lamb. What are you going to get?"

  "Oooh, that sounds good, but I think I am going to get yakisoba noodles. Yum, I am so hungry," I say.

  We separate to get our food; I walk to the cart that has the noodles, and Bridget goes to the falafel cart. We plan meet up at the Benson Bubbler after we get our food. I place my order, picking up the steaming plate at the end of the counter. I grab a fork and napkin, turning to see if Bridget is at the fountain yet. Not paying any attention to my surroundings, I start to walk before I look up to see where I am going, and walk straight into a wall, a hard chest of a wall in a once beautiful black suit. My noodles and vegetables are now streaming down the front of him.

  "Shit! Oh, my gosh! I am so sorry!" I say, as I pull noodles that are now dangling from around the buttons of his suit jacket. "I am so sorry! Here, let me help." I turn to the cart vendor and ask, "Do you have any club soda?" I can't believe I just dumped my food on this guy, my back was to him when all of a sudden the breeze lofted Gio, under my nose, it can't be I thought to myself, Portland is to big.

  He places his hand on my shoulder, and I almost jump out of my skin. I turn quickly. Looking up at him, I am rendered speechless.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm fine. I'm sure my cleaners will be able to get it out," he says.

  Shit, it is him, what are the odds. I can’t stop looking at his eyes; they are so green. Then his lips began to curl up, and that's when I see the dimple, just one. I feel like I just left the dentist’s office with novocaine numbing my mouth; my t
ongue wouldn't move.

  Leaning forward he whispered "Breathe," in my ear. I think my heart stopped.

  He then begins to pick the noodles off the front of my shirt, grazing my arm. I jump at what feels like a shock, like what I would feel at home if I touched the electric fence. It jolts me to awareness. What was that? It wasn't the first time he touched me and I felt the tingling shoot through me.

  I inhale, now remembering to breathe as I come to my senses. "I am so sorry. Let me pay for your dry cleaning," I say apologetically.

  "Don't worry about it, it was going to have to go to the cleaners anyway, since someone spilled noodles down it earlier," he says, chuckling.

  "Oh funny, you are making a joke out of me."

  "No, really it is fine. But you lost your dinner because I was in the right place at the right time. Let me get you some more," he says, as he looks deep into my eyes.

  Oh my God, I have got to get out of here. He’s looking at me as if he can see through to my soul." That's not necessary. I need to find my friend before we never find each other again." I turn, walking quickly to find the Greek cart. He grabs at my shoulder, making me jump again. I should be used to it by now. I look at his hand that is on my shoulder, feeling that strange current again. He removes his hand, holding it up as if surrendering. I turn and run. I don't know why I always run from him, I don't feel that I am afraid of him, maybe it's the idea of him, that's it, I haven't ever talked to a man before, well other than Ash, but that is different. I have to get over this fear and just talk to a man.

  "Why are you running, and where is your food? Why do you have noodles hanging out of your clothes?" Bridget asks. "Why are you out of breath?" Bridget asks as she starts pulling noodles off me.

  "OMG!" I tell Bridget about green-eyed dimpled guy. We both laugh. "I think I am just going to order what you have. It looks safer. Then I think we need to head back. I have yakisoba noodles all over my clothes and down my shirt, and I am sure it's not going to smell real good pretty soon," I say. "We'll come back down here again tomorrow."

  We walk back to the apartment, sit on the sofa after changing into clean clothes; and start to talk.

  "Bridget, I need to talk to you." My voice takes a concerned tone.

  "Sure, what is it?"

  "Well, there are actually a couple different things I want to tell you, but one of them is pretty big. I have wanted to tell you; you're my best friend and maybe this will clear some things up that you might be wondering about."

  "Oh. My. God! You're gay?" she says with a shriek clapping like a little kid, "I always wanted a gay friend."

  "No! I'm not gay." Where did that come from? "But first I want to tell you that Ash and I went out one time when we were freshman."

  "Yeah, and? Are you going to tell me you're in love with him?" she says, smiling.

  "Gosh, no!" I say. "I just never said anything and I wanted to let you know just in case it ever came up."

  "Well, Ash told me that a long time ago. I guess that is maybe why I thought you were gay. I mean you never had a boyfriend in high school, and Ash is the only date you ever had and geez, look at Ash, he hot." She says.

  "Oh, he did? You really thought I was gay?"

  "Well, that was the only explanation I could come up with on why you never dated. I mean there was a bunch of guys that wanted to go out with you throughout high school, but you didn't give them the time of day. I just assumed," she says apologetically. "I mean, if you are, it doesn't make a difference to me. You're my best friend, and I love you no matter what you are."

  "I love you too, Brig." I say as I hug her. "Really? There were guys in school that wanted to date me? I never knew!"

  Tell me what happened on your date, Ash didn't really go into it.

  "First because I wasn't sixteen, I wasn't suppose to date, so I lied to Hank and said I was with you, I told Ash we needed to go to an early showing because I needed to be home before Hank got home. Ash ordered popcorn and soda for us I was feeling so grown up on my first date. We strolled to the viewing room the movie was playing in, and found ourselves seats. It was pretty empty that early in the evening. I was so nervous; I hadn't ever been alone with a boy before and Ash seemed so experienced, which scared me. As the lights went down and the movie started, he reached for my hand. My heart began to race. He put his arm around my shoulder, using his fingers to caress my neck up and down. Then his hand found my clavicle as he slowly massaging lower. I started to break out in a cold sweat, my breathing was erratic, and my heart felt as if it was going to jump out of my chest. My mouth started watering as if I was going to get sick. I jumped out of my seat and ran to the bathroom. Slamming the door on the first available stall, I threw myself onto the floor in front of the porcelain god and emptied the contents of my stomach. Once I was through cleaning myself up, I walked out of the bathroom with my head hung low in embarrassment. I continued down the hallway and found Ash, looking at me with concern. I told him I didn't think I was girlfriend material and that it would be best to just be friends."

  "Why did that freak you out so much?" Bridget asks.

  "Well, that's were the second thing I need to tell you starts." I tell her my deepest secret, Bridget sat with her mouth hanging as I told her about Hank. The shocked look on her face said it all, we sat crying and holding each other. It feels so good to tell someone; it's like I have someone in my corner fighting for me now. A weight has been lifted off my chest and I feel as if I can breathe again. "Brid, you're the only person I have ever told about this. That's the reason I never felt comfortable dating."

  "It all makes perfect sense now. Oh Parker, you should have said something sooner, I know my parents would have helped get you out of there." I ponder what it would have been like if I had said something to her parents, but it's too late for that now.

  After our long cry fest, we pull the bed out of the wall and go to sleep.

  The next two days go by quickly. I have been so excited and looking forward to going to both of the markets since I picked out my apartment. We spend both days walking around Portland. Saturday, we walk to the farmer's market on the PSU campus. I pick up some fruits and vegetables while we are down there. Sunday, we explore the Saturday market, looking around for anything we thought we had to have and just watch the vendors hock their wares. I'm surprised they haven't changed the name to weekend market since they are open both Saturdays and Sundays.

  It was getting late and Bridget had to get home. She still has classes. We hug each other goodbye then she leaves.

  It was a great weekend. I had a lot of fun. If this is what it is like to be a grown-up, I think I can handle it.

  Noodle Me

  Ian

  I am so hungry! I worked through my lunch again, I have to stop doing that. The nice thing about working downtown is the food carts. They are everywhere; take your pick of food, they will have it down here. What sounds good today... Yakisoba noodles, yep that's it. I walk to the food cart, and I see her.

  There she is! I've learned my lesson. I'm not going to talk to her or touch her until she turns and looks at me, that way I won't scare her. She picks up her food and it looks like she is looking for someone, she turns and walks right into me. I am chest to feet covered in noodles.

  I have never seen anyone so accident prone in my life. She's pulling noodles off me. She asks cook for club soda... as if they have a spare liter just laying around. I have to laugh. The guy looks at her as if she's from a different planet.

  This is an expensive week for dry-cleaning, but well worth it to see her and make her turn red again.

  I can't stop looking at her eyes; they are so blue. Then her scrumptious lips. I want to taste them. Just thinking of them makes me smile. I feel that zap again when I touch her arm to take some of the noodle off the front of her shirt. She feels it too. She’s not breathing again.

  I make a joke to see if I could make her turn red again with another smart ass comment. Yep, bingo! Just like that she is red. God, that's
hot. And, of course, fun.

  I look deep into her eyes again and offer to buy her more noodles, but she turns and runs. Really! What the hell! Now I am getting a complex. I've never had to work so hard to get the attention of a woman before, and this woman is one I have to know.

  Man, I'm never going to get sleep if this keeps up. (no pun intended)

  Chapter 7

  What Goes Up Must Come Down

  Parker

  My first couple weeks of work seem to go by extremely fast. I haven't had any more run-ins with tall, dark, and gorgeous. However, that is probably a good thing since I become a spaz around him.

  I am just finishing up my day stocking shelves; I only have a couple more books to put away. I am on the top of a tall rolling ladder, not wanting to get down to move it. I decide to stretch the couple feet to reach the location where the last books go. I am smiling as I daydream of Mr. tall, dark, and handsome and the klutz I am around him, when suddenly I heard a voice below.

  “I think I’d like that book you have in your hand. From the expression on your face, it must be a good one.”

  Startling me from my fantasy of him, I lose my footing, and the books go flying. I let out a squeal. Trying to grasp onto the shelving, the ladder, anything to keep myself from the inevitable fall, squeezing my eyes tight, I wait for what is certain to come. At the same time I am praying not to break every bone in my body.

  As if in a dream, I open my eyes as he catches me in his arms.

  He smiles down at me saying, “So, is this how you get a man’s attention?” He chuckles in that deep voice that makes me quiver to my core.