Him Her Them Boxed Set (9 page)

Sitting in the car, parked along the curb in front of my home, my hands shake in anticipation to see what Pierce sent me today. Something in my mailbox at work every day since Monday and never the same thing twice. Monday it was a small key ring with a Martini glass, Tuesday a cornflower stem entwined in honeysuckle, Wednesday it was a "Wayne's World" DVD, and Thursday it was a white box with a red bow and inside was a pair of his boxer briefs.

I knew it wasn't that hard to find my office, since the Johns Hopkins website posts the pictures of all the professors. All Pierce had to do was look at the Psychology department page and find my photo. I wondered if he would show up at my job, but disappointingly no. Part of me really want` to see him soon, but it's best to keep work and personal life separate. Nevertheless, each day my heart would beat a little fast walking to my mailbox waiting to see what he thought up.

My hand holds a small rectangular white envelope addressed to me: Assistant Professor Josephine Powell at Johns Hopkins University Arts and Sciences Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Office 238.

I usually wait until I am home with a glass of red wine in my hand and curled up on the couch. But I have been staring at this envelope most of the day, half-reviewing my lecture notes. I have to admit I haven't gotten much work done today, wondering what is inside.

Biting my bottom lip I rip open the envelope and pull out the card. The front is of a pinup model. It looks like one of the framed posters in his apartment. There is a beautiful woman standing, leaning against a yellow wall. Her thick, long raven hair swept up in a very messy up-do that is close to falling apart. Her eyelids lazily hang as her bright red lips pucker and she holds up a long black nightgown over her naked body. One seemingly endless, shapely leg appears in front as her other hip pops out on the other side of the gown. She is just wearing one red pump, the other askew behind her. I look at her, and realize ... she is me? Pierce found a picture of a woman who posed decades ago, but looks remarkably like myself. I smile as I open the card.

In the kitchen I hear your laugh

As you survey my empty store

In the hallway as I pass

I see you leaning against the door.

The shower is filled each morning

With the music of your cries

Each night without warning

I toss with visions of your eyes

Your shade lingers long behind

An apparition haunting me

Endlessly looping in my mind

I only wish I could be free.

Oh Goddess, hear your Peasant Boy

Chase these visions, be my joy.

I feel my heart ache while heat cascades down my body and my muscles contract causing me to moan as I take a deep breath to fill my lungs. My body needs him and I wonder how long I will hold out. As my eyelids fall I see him naked, lying in his bed as I left him last week. In my head I am snaking my hand down his rippled muscles and removing the blanket that covers his endowment. It's hard, thick and dripping for me to lick it.

Tap. Tap Tap.

With a jolt I am propelled like a bullet out of my fantasy and turn to see someone knocking on my passenger window. My heart races as adrenalin is coursing through my veins. I roll the window down slightly and hear a sweet, matronly voice.

"Are you alright hon?"

Mrs. Carver is hunched over and peering into my car. I swallow realizing if she had waited just 30 seconds longer to tap on my window I might have been doing something that would cause her to blush. I nod, just a touch more eagerly than a wholly innocent person would.

"Oh yes, Mrs. Carver. I am just tired from a long week and resting my eyes."

I gather my things, roll up the window and turn off the ignition. As I step out of the car and walk onto the sidewalk she is waiting for me.

"So, Mrs. Carver, how was your trip to the Cape?"

She smiles and it warms my heart. For the past two months that was all she talked about. She has always dreamed of going to Cape Cod, but could never afford it.

"I just got back a few hours ago and it was better than I imagined it would be, hon. You have to come over for dinner and I'll tell you all about it. I am going to grill up some steaks, have baked potatoes and corn on the cob."

"Sounds better than what I had planned. I'll be there, just let me change out of my work clothes. Can't wait to hear about your adventures on the Cape."

She rubs her hands together and gives off a squeak.

"Oh good. My son Pierce is going to be there, I can't wait for you to finally meet him."

My heart does a double take as the air leaves my body. I watch her as she runs off toward her home and leaves me standing there unable to move. Looking around I wonder if he is already here, or on his way, or ... could he be watching me right now?! I take a deep breath and realize how foolish I am acting. Never have I acted this way for a man, even as a teenager.

I wanted nothing to do with guys as a teen. My priority was to get out of my home as quickly as possible, so that meant lots of studying. Sure, there were plenty of boys I had crushes on, but even then I realized school work was more important than a few dates that ended in the backseat of a parents borrowed station wagon with some guy's "well, that never happened before" all over my skirt.

Luna is the hopeless romantic, but I never expect some man to come and sweep me off my feet with grandiose romantic gestures. There are very few men like that in the world and if they exist they have long since been taken. Now, that's not to say I don't want romance. I very much do, hence why I am putting Pierce through the test. My romantic fantasy hero may not exist, but it doesn't mean I can't create him, given enough time and suitable raw materials.

As I look over at Mrs. Carver's red brick row home, I wonder how much Pierce is willing to become my hero. So far he is more than winning the role, but what happens when we see each other again? Will he have a change of heart? Will I? Or, even worse, will he become lazy like the men of my past and keep doing less and less for me, until I am sitting on a couch with him one day watching an episode of Game of Thrones and the most interaction we have with one another is when I say, "Ewww" and plug my nose to his farts.

Shaking my head I realize I need to focus on the present, I can't second guess something that hasn't even happened yet. So, I head upstairs to my bedroom to change into a perfect "you-want-me-but-can't-have-me" outfit.

After about fifteen minutes I am back outside with a touch of makeup, hair loose and flowing. I picked the navy butterfly cap sleeve blouse -- I love how it hints it might be sheer but isn't, at least in the strategically important areas -- paired with my favorite short cherry print flared skirt with red strappy heels. As I walk up to the door I do a quick check at myself in the window beside the door and am satisfied with my appearance. Placing my knuckles on the door I give it a few good taps.

After a few seconds the door opens and I am greeted with the person I long to see. My breath leaves my lungs for the second time this evening and all I can do is stare.

"Josephine, there you are." Pierce states as if I have been by his side the whole time, only to have stepped away for a few moments. His smile is breathtaking and those eyes shine like polished mahogany. He is even more tantalizing than I remember. For the first time in my life I am speechless and images of last week float behind my eyes as his poem plays in my head. I can feel my nipples harden and all I want to do is reach over and tear that dark grey pattern button up off his toned body.

Finally, my daze is broken as I hear Mrs. Carver yell from the background.

"Is that Jos, hon? Let her in please."

"Yes, Pierce, I do hope you let me in." I smirk noticing his eyes starting to darken. He steps back from the door and my skin shivers knowing his eyes are on me. I walk past to make my way into the living room.

The room is bright and airy, but has a homey touch. The couch is cream and plush but the furniture dark and a bit old fashioned, like something I would find in a friend's home growing up. There is a light blue Persian rug covering the dark wood flooring with light, sheer fabric draping the windows.

Mrs. Carver is placing some cheese and crackers on the coffee table as she looks up to notice me.

"Oh Jos, so glad you could come. I have been longing to introduce you to my boy. Pierce, come in here please, and stop staring at her it's rude."

I try to suppress a laugh and look to the floor as the giggles start to cross my lips.

"Mom, please!"

I look back at Pierce who has his hands over his face from embarrassment. His gaze punctures through as his fingers shift to watch me smiling at him. Lifting his hands and running them through his soft rich caramel hair I groan as that one movement from a man always sends me over the edge, he is no exception. He hears me; I know he does as I see his eyebrow cock up and a smile appear on his face.

Quickly I turn my head back to Mrs. Carver who is smiling at me in an oblivious manner.

"Oh Jos, do have a seat. Is there anything I can get you? I have some soda, water, orange juice or unsweetened iced tea."

"The iced tea sounds lovely. It's a hot one today. I think it went past 100 outside."

She talks to me as she makes her way back to the kitchen but continues the conversation with a louder tone.

"That's why I was so worried when I saw you with your eyes closed in your car. I wondered if you had passed out from the heat. Some people don't have air conditioning in their cars and I worried that was your case."

I watch as Pierce never takes his eyes off me while making his way to a chair directly opposite and sits.

"I may have a five year old Honda, but it's still in good shape and plenty of air conditioning." I yell back to his mom, holding Pierce's gaze as I sit on the couc
h
.

She emerges from the kitchen with a tray of three very different drinks atop. She hands the bottle of beer to Pierce as he breaks our gaze to smile up at his mom. I really think my heart sped up a bit just the way he looks at her.

"Here you are hon, nice cool iced tea."

I take the glass, which is already sweating from the ice and nod a thank you to her. She walks over to the chair right next to Pierce, puts the tray on the coffee table, and then relaxes back, bringing the orange juice to her lips.

"Well I am glad you were fine when I knocked on your car window. You looked a little unwell, flushed while holding that card in your hand, so I naturally became concerned."

I realize this conversation is not going the way I would wish, so I try to steer it in a different direction. But before I have a chance to open my mouth, she starts up again.

"That was an interesting card. I didn't get a close look at it, but it reminded me of the posters you have hanging in your apartment Pierce."

My gaze volleys back and forth between the two. She is looking at him as he smiles and then turns to stare at me.

"Well, that does sounds like a very interesting card mom. You must share it with us Josephine. Was it from a friend or secret admirer?"

He leans over, resting his forearms on his knees watching me with a wicked grin on his face. He's enjoying this, but I don't embarrass easily. I would have thought he would figure that out by now.

"Well, if you must know it is from an admirer. A man I met last week. He's sweet, but you know how men are these days Mrs. Carver. They expect you to fall at their feet if they so much as look in your direction. But, I'm old fashioned; I think a man should work for my attention. Hence the card."

Pierce is tapping his foot on the ground and I can tell he's anxious as his hands cup his mouth.

"Oh, hon, tell me about it. No offence Pierce, but men should always work for the attention of a lady. Especially a woman as beautiful as yourself. Isn't that right Pierce?"

His head drops into his hands and I notice how uncomfortable he is. But then he looks up at me and his smile softens.

"Yes, mother you are right. She is quite breathtaking. Any man would be a fool not to jump through hoops to be with her."

Both Mrs. Carver and I gasp and stare at Pierce. I look over at his mom, whose expression morphs from shock to confusion and settles into a knowledgeable half smile.

"Well, if you two will excuse me, I must get started on grilling the steaks. They don't cook themselves you know. Dinner should be ready in about fifteen minutes."

She gets up and walks behind Pierce, while placing a hand on his back before turning and walking toward the kitchen.

I stand and offer assistance in the kitchen, but she just winks before telling me, "Sit down hon, you are a guest in my home. Now Pierce, do keep her company."

I sit back into the plush couch and sip my tea while watching Pierce. He starts to laugh a bit and looks down.

"You know Josephine, when you look at me like that..."

"What?"

He groans before looking up again.

"I have thought about you every day since last week. Any free time I have had you have invaded my brain."