The days passed slowly, and I didn’t see Ritchie for about four days. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but when that’s the only highlight of your day, well, it’s easy to miss. I hadn’t had much to do; nothing but clean and cook.
I walked along the halls, thinking longingly of our kiss. I wondered about where he was, and what he was doing.
Probably with some other girl. I thought bitterly, and then, No, he’d never do that. Shut up, you’re just making things worse for yourself. Maybe I could go and try to visit him, I was after all just sitting around, waiting for him to do all the showing up. I oughta put in some effort…
But then it occurred to me I hadn’t the faintest idea where he lived. So, defeated, I sat down on the couch and listened to the faint sounds of my mother’s radio. She’d been listening to music for ages; I don’t think that thing had, had a break since December began. And I think if I heard ‘It’s Beginning to look a Lot like Christmas’ one more time I’d march in there and switch the whole thing off.
My dad was home a lot less now. I’d begun to notice the rift between my Father and me growing. He was never a kind man to begin with to be perfectly honest, but he’d always treated me like a daughter, not a tenant.
But I might be judging him too harshly. I had no idea what was going on at work, maybe he’d taken a pay cut or something. He didn’t really talk to me about his work, so there could be something going on… And with the holidays so close…
But no matter how many times I ran this through my brain, I knew it was a much more personal issue than that. He hated anything to do with Ritchie now, even though he hadn’t done anything wrong. Well at least, that I would consider wrong.
It was almost 6:30 when I heard a knock on the door, and jumping over the top of our sofa, I tumbled over to the door and in the process hitting my head against a lamp. Rubbing my forehead I pulled open the door, but my hopes were scattered when I was greeted a burly looking man in an over coat.
“Yer father ‘ome?” His accent was thick and gruff, it reminded me of some of the sailors down by the docks.
“He’s sleeping right now. But I can go…”
“Nah, don’ need that. Jus’ give ‘im this paper.” He said and handed me a folded piece of yellowed parchment. He turned and walked out into the snowy weather without a ‘thanks’.
Well, wasn’t he nice? I thought watching him leave through the parted curtains.
I put the paper on the small table in our living room and was about to sit down when another knock at the door made me jump. Trying to keep my hopes from getting too high, I calmly opened the door. But all sense of calm was dropped when this time I was greeted by Ritchie.
Unable to conceal my joy at seeing him, I hugged him tightly and he laughed, but returned the favor. He peered inside, probably to make sure my Father wasn’t inside. Even if he had been I wouldn’t have cared. It was just wonderful to be able to see Ritchie again, to know he was here and that he cared, even just a little.
“Yer dad…”
“Asleep.” I cut him off, not wanting to think about him in the slightest.
“Tha’s a problem.” He said with a small smile. “D’ya think he’d miss ya if ye left?” My stomach did a funny flip.
“I doubt it.” I said, though I knew if he woke up and I wasn’t home I would be in trouble.
“Great.” He said with a smile, “Was ‘opin’ you could come, doubt yer father woulda agreed anyway. Do ya need ‘elp gettin’ yer coat or anythin’?” I didn’t think about where we’d be going. I just wanted out of the house.
As we walked, he put his arm around me and I could feel myself blushing, I couldn’t get used to this feeling at all. It was like a new experience every time.
After walking for a time(I noticed with a giggle, Ritchie was wearing a watch now) I saw the theatre come into view. I’d gone before, but never on my own like this and I was excited to go, that was for sure. Ritchie paid for the tickets and I felt guilty. I hadn’t even brought my purse.
I’d heard stories about what a lot of people did during the movies. But we actually watched the thing. Though we didn’t do much, that didn’t mean other people had taken the same pledge. Just a few seats away I could hear the disgusting sounds of tongues and lips smacking. I cringed almost every time and I could sense Ritchie’s unease as well and I had a feeling he was glad to get out of there.
We didn’t go home right away. Instead, he took me to a club or something, I couldn’t tell you if it was or not, I for one had never been to anything of the sort before and was a bit nervous about going inside.
“They don’ bite.” Ritchie said with a laugh. “And it isn’ the kinda club you must be thinkin’ of.” He added and I followed him in. “This is where I play some nights, right up there, with the Darktown Skiffle group, but sometimes they need me ta fill in for other groups...” He said pointing toward an area where another band was playing. I guess tonight wasn’t his bands
turn.
We danced among the crowd, and once or twice we would take a break. He bought us a drink for us to share, and I realized with a jolt how much he’d been spending with me around.
“You don’t have to do all this.” I had to almost yell at him over the din of the band and audience. He laughed and told me not to worry about it. I still felt bad; I really should’ve done something for him. When returned to the dancing and I saw a couple guys to our right eying us. They were dressed kinda like Ritchie. I didn’t know who they were, and I tried to ignore them. Ritchie didn’t seem to notice them so I told myself it was just me being paranoid.
One of them made their way over to us and his mates followed suit. I tapped Ritchie on the shoulder and he turned to see what I was looking at. He narrowed him eyes and pulled my closer to him protectively. So, he either didn’t like or didn’t trust these people.
“Alan.” he nodded his hello to the boy in front, who grinned broadly at Ritchie. I felt uneasy and I wanted to leave. I tried to step away from Ritchie, as a test, to see if he was willing to let go of me. If he did, I’d know it was okay. But he only held me tighter.
“So, this is yer bird then?” He asked staring at me. I narrowed my eyes at him as Ritchie had and he laughed. “Ya got yerself a nice one here.” He said walking up to me and I pushed myself closer to Ritchie. I could tell he was struggling to contain himself.
“Mind if I have this dance with her?” I’m not property. I thought angrily, and I didn’t want to dance with him anyway, so I was relieved when I noticed Ritchie’s reaction.
“Ye’ve got a girlfriend, or ‘ave ya forgotten about ‘er already? And I wouldn’ want ‘er near ya if ya ‘ad even tha best of intentions, which knowin’ you, you don’.” He was practically snarling at the guy, and it reminded me almost of a dog fight. And I knew I did not want to be near a fight and that I didn’t want Ritchie to be in one.
“Can we just leave?” I whispered into his ear and he seemed to notice I was there for the first time. His eyes softened and he glanced back to the guys. It was getting late anyway, so he nodded and we shoved our way out of the building.
“I’m sorry abou’ them, luv. They don’ ‘ave any sense.” He held my hand and I could tell he was still mad about everything. I guess I was being too quiet because he turned and asked if I was okay.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m fine, I just wish tonight hadn’t turned out like that.” I said motioned in the direction we came from.
“It was really wonderful aside from that.” I added as I saw his face fall. “Really,” And I pressed my lips to his cheek. He smiled and held open the gate for me.
“It really was wonderful.” I told him again, I wanted him to be sure I’d had a good time and that those jerks hadn’t ruined it. “I hope you had fun to.” I added as we walked up the steps to the porch. Well, that sounded stupid. But my words always got all confused around him.
He chuckled and kissed my cheek. I turned to him and on impulse pulled his face closer to mine and kissed him, putting my arms around his neck. He smiled, I could tell. We stood there on the porch like that for a little bit, but after what had seemed like a second, he pulled his face away.
“I’d better be goin’.” He sighed and kissed me again, this time pressing his lips roughly against mine, and I did the same. I ran my lips along his cheek and whispered that I would miss him. He smilds, stroking my cheek with his thumb.
“I’ll see you soon’s I can.” He promised and I sighed as I watched him leave, leaning against the wooden pillars on our porch. The cold gradually began to seep in and I shivered. I stepped inside and was glad to find the piece of parchment still folded where I left it. My dad was still asleep. I heard my stomach rumble but I ignored it and climbed the stairs to my bed.
Sleep didn’t come easy that night. I lay in the dark, trying to get comfortable, but the more I tried, the less it seemed possible. But I must have fallen asleep sometime during the night, because the next thing I remembered was someone leaning onto my bed and scaring me half to death.
“Ritchie!” I gasped for air, still recovering from my shock. “What in bloody ‘ell you think your doin’?” I struggled to keep my voice from climbing above a whisper. My next thought was to ask how on Earth he’d gotten inside, but I decided I’d rather not know. I didn’t want to bombard him with questions and make him feel unwelcome, he wasn’t really.
“That’s a criminal thing ta do, ya know that?” I saw his him cringe slightly in the soft moonlight that silhouetted his frame.
“Jeezus, I’m sorry luv… Me parents locked the door on me. I didn’ get back till after midnight. I s’pose they were right to, though… I didn’ know ya would be so stressed ‘bout this.” I could tell he felt sorry for coming.
“You can’t stay here!” I said, further adding to his guilt. “…At least not all night anyway, what d’ya think my father’ll say if he sees you?” But I must’ve said something right, because he smiled at me, and even in the dark his smile sent shivers down my spine.
-the next part contains sensuality, but nothing important to the plot. so if you'd like to skip it, find the large, bolded 'END', fair warning.-
He leaned forward and I felt his lips meet mine, and in spite of myself I gladly kissed him back. My fingers gripped his shoulder tightly and I felt his lips move from mine to my neck and he leaned into my body, pushing me back into my bed. I fell back and welcomed him alongside me. I could feel his lips, the never ending torrent of kisses and bites he covered my body with. His hands were squeezing my arms and our breathing was coming in gasps now.
We lay there, doing no more than kissing for a long time; I felt his hand move a bit lower than my neck. My unease gradually began to sneak back. I hadn’t fully noticed at first because I was solely focused on the way his skin felt against mine, tender and feather light, sometimes drawing lines against my arms. Maybe I really shouldn’t, but his motions against my body made me drop every concern.
His other hand was at my waist and he was stroking me gently all the while, my emotions were racing almost as much as my breath. He moved over onto me, crushing much of my already feeble breath out from my chest… But I didn’t want him to leave. Our kisses grew longer and more intimate.
He reached for the topmost button of my shirt, and I placed my hand on his, ready to stop him if I felt too uncomfortable at any moment. But he didn’t even unbutton all of them, and all the feelings he’d helped to create were growing impatient. I couldn’t think straight, and as his other hand rested gently stroking my cheek, I forgot all about the other, I was in a dreamlike stupor, and it was amazing.
His fingers ran lightly across my stomach, causing me to twitch and tense my belly. His lips moved from my neck again, but this time, lower. His lips were soft as they moved across my body, and his breath was warm. I clutched at his own shirt, crumpling it in my hands when I felt his fingers against my chest. I clenched my teeth together in effort not to make a sound, oh God, if only my father wasn’t in the room next to mine...
His breathing was growing faster and I could almost hear his pulse, racing at a million miles a second. I could feel him moving his body against mine and felt his hands exploring my body. I was breathless, gasping for air as I also moved against him. I could hear him groaning and it didn’t occur to me to shush him. I stroked his hair, mingling my fingers in the dark brown strands.
I gasped as I felt his tongue lightly tracing across my flesh, and my entire body seemed to tingle and convulse… Never had I felt anything as intense as this, so wonderful. I felt about to scream with all the tension that was manifesting itself. I was breathing heavily, chest heaving as I tried desperately to be quiet.
But when he returned his lips to mine- gradually working his way up to my neck, jaw, lips- I moaned softly into them. I could feel his own pulse racing frantically as I gripped his shoulders and I could feel his tongue slip in between my lips, this time I ventured to try the same thing. He moaned and I had to shush him frantically, I hated to think what my Father would do if he found us.
I felt his hands slide down my legs and felt myself tension grow, but in a strangely exciting way. Stroking me softly I moaned through his lips, his fingers felt so… I felt them slip a little higher up my thigh and I started to worry, but my emotions overpowered my thoughts.
My skin seemed on fire as he drew lightly across my leg. He kissed my shoulder, running his lips across my chest .I moaned at the sensations that engulfed my body, pulling his lips to mine I kissed him hungrily, and he pressed his mouth hard against mine. He pressed his body roughly into mine with a groan.
He let out another groan, this one seemed from pain, and he rolled stiffly away from me,
I felt alone, confused even, with his weight gone, and my skin burned for his touch. I felt like reaching out for him to pull him back, but I refrained. He grimaced as he asked rather hoarsely,
“Ya got a bathroom?” His voice was raspy and hoarse.
“Yes, but do you have to go now?” I asked panting still, and mildly annoyed. He smiled painfully.
“I jus’ really need ta use it, luv.” He groaned loudly and I told him where it was before he could be any louder.
He walked out, leaving me to my thoughts and a moonlit sky. After he left I realized why he might’ve needed to use it, and I felt kind of bad for being so short with him.
I felt shivers running through my spine; I had never felt anything like that, such… electricity racing through my veins, blood pounding in my ears… I shuddered as I pulled myself out of my thoughts.
He’d have to leave now; I couldn’t risk him being around near time my Father woke up. I buttoned my shirt up, and attempted to fix my hair, which was a complete mess of mats and tangles. He didn’t come back for awhile, but even so, my heart was still pounding like a hammer against cloth as I struggled to retain normal breathing, and I had begun to worry if he’d snuck out without telling me.
END
He stroked my hair and I sighed, he pulled me into his embrace, kissing me softly for the last few times, murmuring about how much he’d miss me.
“Ritchie…” I whispered as I bit my lip. I didn’t want him to leave, but he definitely had to go. I wondered briefly if he’d gotten any sleep at all that night, but the dark circles beneath his shimmering eyes told me all I needed to know. I felt selfish, wishing he could stay here with me when he needed to take care of himself as well.
We snuck silently down the flight of stairs and tried to unlock the door in silence, which is harder than it sounds. He took my hand in his, and raised it to his lips, brushing them lightly across my palm. One foot out the door, he said good-bye to me in a whisper and the door clicked shut leaving me in a dark house, cold and alone.
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