Chapter 4: The Beginning

           Weeks had passed since the night at the club with Ian. Marsha and Luke had started dating exclusively. Mallory managed to get Ian out of her mind by remembering her first impression of him. He was exactly the kind of guy she should stay away from. And so she did. Until one night.

            She had agreed to meet Stevie at Fat Cat’s bar, a small place with a juke box and a cozy atmosphere. Neither of them were in the mood for dancing. They wanted to go somewhere to drink and talk. Fat Cat’s was perfect for that.

            When Mallory arrived Stevie wasn’t there yet. She bought a beer at the bar and settled at a table in a dark corner. Stevie was running late. No big deal. From the corner Mallory could see the door, but she was barely visible when it was closed. This suited her fine.

            Well into her second beer the door opened and three guys walked in. The first was tall and handsome. The second was short and average. The third was- oh crap- Ian. He hadn’t seen her. She could slip out when he wasn’t looking.

            The three of them sat at the bar, schmoozing with the lady bartender. Mallory watched them talk about whatever guy stuff, drink their beers, be generally loud. She shrunk into the shadows, thinking she was well hidden.

            Not long after he had arrived Ian got up to “use the can”, as he announced loudly to his friends. He walked toward Mallory, not noticing her at first. But then a couple left and when the door opened he saw her. She was looking right at him, stunned at being caught.

            “Mallory?” She was surprised that he remembered her name. She stood up, trying to act like she wasn’t avoiding him. They hugged and Ian helped himself to a chair at her little table. She explained that she was waiting for Stevie, but it had been a half hour and she didn’t know what had happened to her friend.

            “I’ve thought about you,” Ian admitted. Mallory was stunned. Why would a guy like him think about a girl like her? “I should have gotten your phone number. It would be great to hang out.”

            They talked. Ian forgot about his friends. He asked her a million questions about herself and her job. He told her about himself. They talked for hours. Eventually his friends left with just a look over their shoulders. But he didn’t care. He hung on Mallory’s every word.

            She liked talking to him. He smiled when he talked. He smiled all the time. Her first impression had been wrong. Well, mostly wrong.

            It was last call before Mallory realized how long they’d been there. She had even forgotten to worry about Stevie. Her phone had been on vibrate and she hadn’t even noticed that Stevie had sent her five texts. She had locked her keys in her car and had to call her dad for the spare. Then he had talked her ear off and she couldn’t get away.

            “I hate to ask you this,” Ian said. “My friends left me. Can you give me a ride home?”

            “Why would they leave you if they’re your ride?”

            “I guess they figured I would work it out.” Ha! They figured he was going home with Mallory. She was offended. But he assured her it wasn’t his intention.

“They’re just stupid,” he said. “But I am stuck here. I don’t mind calling a cab.”

Within minutes they were in Mallory’s car. She swore to herself that she would only take him home. Nothing more. But when they pulled into his driveway they once again had their hands all over each other.

Their kisses were just as passionate as the first time. It was almost as if they could fuse together under the heat. Mallory felt a deep ache, a yearning to be with him, to feel him inside of her. Her resolve melted.

“Do you want to come in?” His voice was husky and dark. He held her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. She couldn’t resist this time. She couldn’t say no.

They stumbled into the house, up the stairs, and to his bedroom. Mallory noted that it was the cleanest room in the house. Within minutes their clothes were off and he was caressing her breasts, licking her nipples. They pawed at each other’s parts like virgins discovering sex for the first time. Nobody had ever made her feel this way. When he raised himself over her she held her hand up to him.

“Wait,” she said breathlessly. “Condom?”

He stared down at her, first with a hint of irritation. Then he laughed. He rolled onto his side and reached into a drawer by the bed. Once the device was in place he positioned above her again, looked into her shining blue eyes, and buried himself deep inside of her.