Filling up the Virgin(6)

I was surprised when a black car pulled up, and Declan opened the door for me, inviting me to slip inside. I did, seeing the luxury of black leather seats and even a small bar. “Would you like a drink?” Declan asked me as I held up my bottle of water. He poured a glass of whiskey and sipped it as he reached for my hand. “I’m sorry for cutting things short.”

“It’s okay,” I replied as I felt the warmth of his big palm against my small hand. “I had a great time.”

“I did as well. Maybe…we’ll see one another again at the club,” I was surprised at his words and the stricken look on his face. “That’s all I can promise you.”

I got out at my apartment, and he walked me to the door, kissing my cheek before he walked back to the car. I shut my door and locked it behind me as I turned to see Nicki’s pink purse on my kitchen counter. I sighed and walked back to my bedroom, hoping that she respected my wishes not to bring guys home here, something that she honored. Sure, enough, she was in my bed sleeping, and I pulled on a big shirt before I slipped under the comforter. “Hi. Are you okay?” Nicki asked sleepily as I nodded and snuggled under the blanket on the king-sized bed that I found the money for when I moved in.

“I’m great,” I replied dreamily as she opened her eyes and looked at me in the moonlight that shone through the window.

“Did you sleep with him?” I nodded, and she squealed as she turned to face me. “Who was he? How did it feel?”

“His name is Declan. I don’t know too much about him other than he’s amazing in bed. I never knew that it could be that good,” I said in wonder as she giggled.

“It can. Are you going to see him again?” Nicki asked as my face fell.

“He didn’t ask for my number or give me his. He just said that we might see each other at the club.” I looked at Nicki. “Do you know him?”

“His friends are part of the business crowd, and they have money. I slept with Brad, but we didn’t talk too much about him or any of them. I think that he owned some graphic design business or something.” Nicki shrugged, and I bit my lip. “I go there a lot. Don’t worry.”

“I just liked him,” I admitted as she smiled.

“Sex is different for women. For him, it might have been a one nighter. It was like that for me the first time, too.” Nicki wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. “You’re amazing, Poe. If he isn’t the one, somebody is.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” I agreed as I closed my eyes and gave in to sleep. Everything would work out.

I threw myself into classes and my part-time job as a freelance copywriter, but Declan was never far from my mind. I thought about the night that I spent with him far more than I did the breakup with James that happened the day after my night out. I confronted him, and he admitted what he did, and that was it. I thought that I should be heartbroken after losing a beau of a few months, but I felt nothing about it, thinking more about the night with Declan than anything else.

I talked to Nicki about it the following Thursday night over pizza, and she smiled at me. “So we go tomorrow night. It was fun, right?”

I’d only spent the night with him so I couldn’t say if it were, but I agreed. I might meet someone else, even though I didn’t want a string of one-night-stands or even other men. I went to bed that night with some hope and attended classes with a smile. That night, I sipped wine and put on my own makeup and picked the red dress that I was wearing, all meeting Nicki’s approval.

Declan wasn’t there that night. I still drank and danced halfheartedly with some other men, but it wasn’t the same. I took a cab home with Nicki, who spent the night after seeing my long face at the end of the evening. I felt dumb for being disappointed, but there was a big part of me that hoped he wanted to see me again. Our night was cut short too soon, and I knew that we had a lot more to do together unless he already had someone else. He was gorgeous, and that was a definite possibility since I was just…me.

I went to classes and did my work with less enthusiasm the following week, causing me to fall behind on deadlines and stay home to work all weekend. Nicki went and reported that I didn’t miss Declan and I pretended that I didn’t care, even though I did more than I let on. I just told myself that it was a night I needed to put in the past and move on. I had a good future ahead of me once I graduated and even now if I picked it apart, despite my current grades and family drama. I could bring the grades up and everything would be okay.

I just kept thinking about Declan and our night together. It was passionate, exciting and perfect in my memory.