helps since we have an idea how each other thinks. After a while we get a beer, and then decide to check out the other games. As we enter the Star Trek room, I hear my name being called. Turning around, I see Colin, my ping pong partner. It doesn’t look like he’s here with the blond from last year’s holiday party. I wonder what’s with that.
“Hey, Colin, I didn’t know you’re a gamer.”
He smiles as he nods his head. “Yeah, I’ve never seen you at any of the underground events.”
“It’s my first time.” I introduce him to David.
Colin looks at my beer as he gets a bit of a glint in his eye. “Hita, something other than orange mineral water?”
“Did this just rock your world?”
A big smile lights up his face as he shakes his head. “Not really, I guess it would have to be grape mineral water to rock my world.”
I laugh, but figure it’s probably not too cool to be having inside jokes with Colin on my date with David.
Colin looks over at the boards. “Are you guys in?”
I look at David to see what he’s interested in doing. I’m not sure if he’s cool with Colin joining us for a game. He shrugs, so I figure it’s okay. We all head into the next room. Colin plays these games like he plays ping pong—well. He’s quick to pick up on an opposing player’s strategy, and can lay out his own strategy without broadcasting what he’s up to.
At about one in the morning I start yawning. David watches me, and then says, “I think it’s time for me to take you home.”
He parks in front of my apartment. As he walks me to my door he takes my hand and threads his fingers through mine. I look up at him with a smile as we walk up the stairs together. My insides are tight. Do I invite him in or do we stand at the door and kiss? Isn’t there some kind of three date rule? I don’t want to be like Caroline, but I sure don’t want us to end up like me and Anil.
Opening up the door we stand there smiling at each other. Finally I say, “You want to come in?”
He nods his head as we both move over the threshold. The lights are off. I don’t know if Kristi is at Tim’s, or if they’re here in bed. I drop my purse on the carpet as I walk over and sit down on the couch. I wonder if I should turn on music, or the TV. David takes the wonder out of it when he sits down right next to me. Brushing my hair over my shoulder. he leans in and kisses me. At first softly, but the soft kisses become more passionate and it doesn’t take too long before there is a lot of tongue involved.
His hands rub my back as I decide I want to touch skin. Snaking my hand under his shirt, I can feel his warm skin. He follows my lead. I back up from him. Maintaining eye contact I throw off my jacket, stop, and then with what I hope is a slightly sly smile I pull off my top. David’s lips part and his eyes open in astonishment. He follows my lead, pulling off his hoodie and shedding his T-shirt. We both lean into each other again, kissing with much less constraint as our hands feel each other’s back. David stops at my bra clasp, maintaining our kisses as he struggles, finally unlatching it. Once free, his hands run up and down the length of my bare back. Again we release our kisses as he moves back to look me in the eye. His breath is heavy as his eyes move to my chest. I drag my bra down my arms and drop it on the floor. Then I brush the back of my fingers down his cheek, finally dragging the tips of my fingers down to his bare chest. He repeats my movement, stopping at my chest where he traces the curve of my breast with his fingers. We move back to kissing. My apartment is quiet, all I can hear is the sound of our heavy breaths. We move together again, this time our kisses are hungry with more passion behind them. My fingers run along the planes of his back while his hands continue to palm my breasts.
At some point we fall back onto