Desire Love and Passion

chapter 5



Willow dressed in a white laced over super-mini A-line dress with a plunging neckline. She wore silver heels no more than an inch. Her hair was pulled up and away from her neck. Upon seeing her, James tried to remember when last he found a woman as desirable.

"Oh, Lord," he said aloud when he saw her.

"What?" She walked by him as she entered his house for the second time in three days.

"You look great."

"Thank you."

"I'm so glad you could make it," he said as he led her towards the living room.

"You didn’t really give me a choice, now did you," she said. "Either become the only florist in London or have dinner with you."

"I'm sorry if that was a little over the top."

"Well, my employees seem to enjoy the additions to the office," she said.

"I really want to apologize."

"Perhaps it's best if we forget about Sunday. Let's pretend this is actually our first dinner."

"That's going to be hard, but I'll try."

She followed him into the kitchen. He removed three large plates from the refrigerator. They held an assortment of vegetables, meat, and fungi.

"Do you need some help with those?" Willow asked.

"Sure," he replied. "I thought we might dine outside again. It’s been a gorgeous April so far. You can grab that plate, and I'll take these."

He pointed to a plate of spices. She took it up and carried it out to the deck. This was a different table from Sunday night. It had a built in burner. Already there was a pot on the burner that had steam puffing from it.

"Have you ever had Taiwanese hotpot dining?" he asked.

"Yes, I love it. I always overcook my steak, though."

"Saki or plum wine?" he asked.

"Saki, hot."

It took them only a few more minutes to have the table ready for dining. They sat at ninety degrees from each other.

"Do you do this sort of thing often?" Willow asked.

"What sort of thing?"

"The apology."

"The last time I needed to apologize that badly I was fifteen years old and broke my mother's XVI vase. I bought her roses every day for almost two months. One day she called me into her room and asked why I kept sending the flowers. I said I was sorry for breaking the vase and she said you apologized already. I told her yes, but she never said she forgave me. She laughed, hugged me and said the magic words."

"And what is it you’re apologizing for this time?"

"I did not like the way I ended things between us. I don't want to give you the impression that I didn’t enjoy what was happening. I just have a few demons that don't go away so easily."

"There’s nothing to forgive," Willow said knowing she avoided him not because of what he’d done, but because she was ashamed she'd so easily succumbed to him. "Since we have decided to forget Sunday, it's best we don't re-hash things."

"I didn’t say I would forget. But I’m okay if you prefer it forgotten, for now."

"Let’s talk about something else."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Why didn't you want to be king?"

"I was never destined to be king. Third in line when all was well was nature's advance notice."

"The throne was yours for the taking. Especially after what happened."

"Oh," James said realizing she was speaking about his return to England after the war. "When I left for war, I had a normal life, more or less. I liked stepping out from my family's shadow. I believe the time of unelected leadership has long passed. Even if I didn't believe that, I’m an agnostic. I think that probably precludes me from being head of the Church of England."

"And Miami, was that your break-free moment?"

"Not exactly."

He looked away from her.

"That was years ago. I can't believe you’re still embarrassed."

"It was not my finest moment."

"Yet it was the prelude for the man I’m having dinner with tonight."

“Somewhat,” he said. “I dread having to explain that bit of my past to my children, especially if I have a daughter.”

“Two words,” Willow said. “Young and stupid.”

"That is true" He skewered a shrimp. "But, that’s history. Let us talk about something more interesting.”

"Like what?"

"You."

Willow almost choked on her clam.

"I thought we agreed not to -."

"We agreed not to talk about Sunday. At least parts of it," James said. "That doesn’t mean we can't talk about you."

"Okay, what do you want to know?"

"Are you seeing anyone, even occasionally?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Is the answer important?"

"Sure, I don't want to make his mistake."

"What makes you think he made a mistake?" Willow asked. "If it was even a man."

"You're a beautiful young woman with great fashion taste. You are intelligent. These are undeniably desirable qualities. So, what did he or she do?"

"We were the wrong fit."

"So is it he or she?" James asked.

She gave him a playful look.

“It was a man.”

“How long ago?”

“Seven months or so."

“And you haven’t been seeing anyone since.”

“I haven’t had the time,” she admitted. “But, enough about me. How about you? Are you seeing anyone?”

“This is our third date so I would say yes.”

“Not a date,” she said. “We’re neighbors having dinner. Any news on my car."

"I’m working on it. You know, I can always arrange to have Giles or another employee take you wherever you need to go."

"Thank you, but I sort of love driving. Besides, I might get used being chauffeured then what would happen after?"

"I’m certain we can come to some sort of arrangement."

"I don't want to intimidate my dates."

"I wouldn’t feel intimidated. I’m used to it."

“Okay, it’s apparent you’re going to dance around Sunday, so let’s get it out in the open,” she placed her utensils down and turned to look at him. “I find you extremely attractive. You have broad shoulders and an excellent physique. I could see that from your clothes. Beyond your scar, your face is symmetrical as is the rest of your body. I am attracted to you simply because you represent a fine specimen for procreation. And I am certain you know this from your litany of lovers.”

“Wow,” he said. “Why do I find you attractive?”

They were now looking at each other, the dinner forgotten.

“You just said you wanted kids and, I’m of perfect child bearing age. I have the appropriate ratio that tells you I could bear your children. Obviously you also find my external features appealing enough to engorge your boneless organ. It’s all anthropology.”

He gave a long hearty laugh.

“I thought you were a photographer, not an anthropologist.”

“I am a woman of many talents,” she said.

“When you say something like that, I’m not thinking childbearing,” he said. “What I am thinking may lead to childbearing, but childbearing is nowhere in my mind."

“Let’s not complicate being neighbors,” she said.

“I think you have me all wrong,” James said.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re thinking I just want to have sex with you and that’s it. It’s more than that. I like talking to you. And you’ve been, so far, quite candid and modern in your views on sexuality. I think taking the subtle approach would be rather insulting. And yes, you have, since we’ve met engorged my boneless organ."

It was her turn to laugh. The words falling from his lips were comical.

“So no wining, dining and romancing then?”

“The dining we have down,” he said. “Forget about the wine, I would hate to think whatever happen between us was due to a Chardonnay rather than good old fashion chemistry. As for the romancing, there will be plenty of that.”

“So this is how the magic of James Monroe happens?”

“The invitation is usually the other way round,” he said.

“I see.”

“I’m thirty seven years old,” he said. “I haven’t felt this comfortable or this attracted to anyone in a long time. Four days is a drop in the bucket, but it doesn’t feel like we only met four days ago. So let’s get to know each other exclusive of other people and see what happens. And if Sunday evening was any indication of your feelings, then we should give it a shot.”

“I think dating you will be complicated,” Willow said. “I don’t like complications, remember?”

“Why complicated?”

“Come on,” she said. “You’re in the paper every other day. I’m a very private person and you’re a public figure. That’s like oil and water.”

“We can be private,” he said.

“Let me think about it,” she said.

“Okay,” he said simply.

They went back to their meal, some of the skewered portions now severely overcooked.

“Why did you decide to become a photographer?” he asked changing the subject.

“It was my passion.”

“I think you could have done quite well on the other side of the camera. I noticed that when I was checking out your childbearing potential."

She laughed again. He loved the sound of her voice.

“Modeling for me is the same as being the monarch for you. It was never my destiny."

"So you tried modeling?"

"No, not really. Being on the other side of the camera made it quite clear where I belonged."

They finished dinner a few minutes later. This time James piled everything into the sink without a second thought of going beyond that.

"Let me show you around," he said.

The house was huge. The structures she had seen the first day and thought were apartments were indeed just that. His immediate and personal staff resided in the apartments to the left of what she styled as the main house. Between the apartments and the main house were recreational rooms. One recreational room housed an Olympic sized swimming pool. Another was setup as a pub, complete with a pool table and dart boards. The third one and the one closest to the main house was a small movie theatre.

The doors to the right as she had entered the house led to his home office, a basement, and to guest quarters. The guest quarters were similar to the employee apartments in amount and design. They added symmetry to the house. Upstairs was the bulk of the main house. It had an elaborate master’s bedroom and bathroom complete with two mammoth walk-in closets. One of the closets was completely empty. There were five additional bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, as well.

“You must get lonely in here,” she said as they ventured back downstairs.

“There’s always someone around. Besides, I get out here to get away from everything else.”

“I didn’t say alone,” she turned to look at him as they stopped at the top of the stairs. “I said lonely. You know when all the employees are off to their beds and you’re alone in all of this.”

“That doesn’t happen often. This is a sanctuary. As I told on you on Sunday, you are the first outsider who’s ever been here.”

“You didn’t have to invite me.”

“I know. I really wanted to, though.”

She turned to walk away, he gently caught her hand. He turned her so she was looking at him.

James watched as her eyes moved over his, then down his face where they settled on his lips. She licked her own lips involuntarily and he chuckled.

"What?"

"I may need to beg your forgiveness again," he said before his lips touched hers.

Her lips parted. The hand holding hers let go and move to her waist, the other hand reached up behind her head. Though they were almost the same height, he took pleasure in tilting her head back. It gave him greater access to explore her sensuous mouth. Her hands were on his waist. She wasn't pushing him away.

A moan escaped her lips as he tilted her head back even further and trailed a path down her neck. Her scent was familiar and teased images that he couldn’t quite place.

He broke the kiss and looked at her. She was looking at him, her eyes heavy with emotions. There was no scorn. His scar was not veiled behind make up. The damaged piece of flesh that had caused so many others to turn away did not seem to bother her.

“I want you,” he said.

She did not respond immediately.

His lips brushed against hers lightly.

“I could break all the rules for you,” he whispered.

"Let's not do that," she said

"Somehow I don't think you’d protest much if I did," he said wryly.

"Are you implying that I don't have my rules?"

"Oh, I'm sure you have rules."

"Right now my rules are telling me it’s time to go home."

"You leaving will be the only reason I'll feel lonely tonight."

"I hear cold showers work wonders."

"That's a temporary fix."

"I should go."

His lips brushed against hers before he kissed her on her forehead.

"Can we meet for dinner on Friday?"

"If you promise to play nice," she said.

"I'll try."