Chapter 6

Moans echo through the room. The ones he hates. The ones women make thinking they will sound better. The bed squeaks under pressure until silence falls and only heavy breathing is heard. Richard and the random stranger he doesn’t even remember the name to, lie in bed.

“You need to leave.” Richard orders in a monotone voice.

“But I thought I...at least…”

“You thought wrong. I sleep alone.” He cuts her short and waits for her to get dressed.

“Well, then. Good night I guess.” The woman speaks, her mouth in a visible frown. He offers a curt nod and watches her leave.

He walks to the other bedroom. Comes in handy having the two bedroom suite, he thought to himself as he laid on the fresh, crisp sheets. Richard never fucked in his bed, nor his home. He always took his hook ups to some hotel, or maybe sometimes went to their place. Either way, it was easier to leave and not have to kick someone out. Not that he minded, but he preferred to avoid it if he could.

His mind wanders to the white haired girl. That fucking blushing little thing that had his mind twisted in all kinds of thoughts. She had responded to his kiss that day on the pool and then she had disappeared for days. He couldn’t get a reach of her and he let out his frustration with other women. Not the exact correct way, but come on. He was a guy who was used to having women at his feet and a different one each night to fill his bed. He needed to get Cassandra out of his mind. It was not healthy for him, nor usual, to obsess over someone.

Richard glances at his phone, realizing it’s only a little past eight and he still hasn’t had dinner. Grabbing a clean change of clothes he walks out the room and something small collides with his chest.

“Cassandra.” His face lights up at the sight of the girl who is rubbing her forehead.

“Are you made of steel or something?” she moans, rubbing her forehead. Richard takes a sharp breath at the sound that leaves her mouth, briefly closing his eyes to recollect himself.

“Were you headed to see me?” He ask with a grin. She blushes slightly, swallowing the lump in her throat.

“Yeah, in fact I was. I just wanted to…you know, see if you were free for dinner?” He studies her pink cheeks and smiles at ease. There’s this light feeling inside of him that she brings out.

“Why, are you taking me out on a date sweets?” he messes with her and her face goes redder.

“No! I mean, I don’t know. Call it whatever you want. I just, I know it was wrong to ghost on you after, you know, the pool.”

“After we kissed.” He states, awaiting for her reaction.

“Yeah that. So I want to make it up to you and you know, talk and have dinner?” Her blush is a shade darker now.

“I like the sound of you and me together sweets, but I can’t let you take me out to dinner. What will my mama say? She taught me to treat a lady right, so will you go to dinner with me?” she laughs at his words.

“Pot meet kettle, whatever.” She holds her belly still laughing.

************

They end up in a nice little restaurant near Alexander Platz.

“So, you never told me what you exactly do for a living. I know you said something about being on visit at some company.” Cassandra sips her wine.

“I’m a lawyer”

“You’re shitting me!” her mouth hangs open.

“Why would I?” Calmly takes a puff of his cigarette.

“Oh God, you’re serious. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. I just could have never guessed.”

“You don’t know me, so, no offense taken. You can’t guess one’s profession just because you met them a couple of times and never talked about it.”

“Well, I’d like to know more about you. You are right, we never talked about it, because I was too busy playing damsel in distress and you coming to my rescue.”

“I’m no knight in shining armor, that’s for sure. Anyway, what do you wanna know? Ask away.” He sips his wine and lights another cigarette.

“And you’ll answer just like that?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“Hmm, ok, sure. So this far I know you’re American, you’re a lawyer and you don’t like to talk much. You mainly just answer questions or only talk when necessary.” Richard laughs at her observation.

“Well, you got that right. Anyway, I try to refrain myself from talking too much, ’cause usually I cuss a lot, I might offend people without even realizing it, since to my mouth filter is a foreign concept. I’m blunt, bold, I prefer my loneliness to buzzing places and boring company, I like to walk my dog in my free time…” Cassandras listens to him intently.

“And you like to mess with me, use tons of sexual innuendos-

“I love it when you blush.” He interrupts her. “Sometimes I’m afraid I might overstep, but I keep messing with you ’cause you look adorable when you smile uneasy, trying to hide your blush and act sassy. I get it that you don’t feel comfortable talking about sex stuff though, so if you want me to stop, I will. Just say the words.” She is doing exactly what he had just said: blushing.

“I…I don’t think I want you to stop. It’s who you are, you don’t have to change that. I can’t say I don’t like it.”

“I’m a very sexual person Cassandra. I’m being upfront about it, ’cause it’s something I don’t want to lie about, especially if your intentions and mine are on the same page. Getting to know you, I mean. Do you have a problem with that?” she swallows the lump on her throat and shakes her head no.

“Good.” Richard raises his glass and downs his drink in one take. “Tonight was unexpected. I’d like to take you on a proper date.”

“I’d like that.” She smiles and pushes her hand forward on the table, to meet his. He realizes what she wants to do and closes his eyes briefly dragging in a breath, mentally preparing himself for the physical contact.

Her delicate hand feels so soft and smooth on the back of his hand. He gathers the courage to not remove it. Instead he turns it and interlaces their fingers. A shiver runs down his back.

‘There! It happened. You’re not dead. She’s ok. Nothing happened’ he thought to himself, trying to control his breathing.