Chapter 21 Wanting More
Mariko's POV
I wanted to beat Ash and his father up when Maddie had just told me what they had put her through. But now I did not expect my son to be here and I hope that Amber is not here. This is going to be something else. He looked between the two of us.
"Yes, we are having dinner and what are you doing here?" I asked after taking a sip of my red wine.
Maddie seemed awkward. "I was having dinner with Mr Leonard from Leonard Corporate," he replied, and my jaw clenched. Maddie's eyes widened as she tried to scan the restaurant for him.
"So why are you having dinner with him?" Ash's father of all people. My son had better not make this difficult for me. I do not want him to be around business men like them.
"I plan to work with them,"
"No, I refuse that," I said as calmly as I could. "You do not know what they are capable of and I don't want you to be influenced by them."
"Dad, it is my life and my choice. You cannot tell me who to work with, who to have dinner with and who to have dates with," he held my gaze. "I have to go," he replied and looked at Maddie. "I hope to see you around. Enjoy dinner," he tried to smile, but failed and then he followed after Mr Leonard.
I let out a deep breath at this situation. Bradley will be the death of me. I have to allow him to make his own decisions and feel the consequences if anything goes badly, "Are you okay?" Maddie asked as she reached out to me and placed a hand on top of mine that was resting on the table. We barely finished our meals.
"I'm okay, but I worry about this situation. I don't want him working with people that hurt you. But I cannot control my son," I said.
"I'm just happy that Mr Leonard didn't see me here. If he had, then he would call me all sorts of names no matter who he is around and he would try to warn you about what I'm doing." she said in defeat as she pulled her hand away from mine.
"Do not let them get to you. They can say whatever they want about you, but it is only what I think and say that should matter to you. Only my words and actions should affect you and vice versa. But I won't allow them to hurt you again. Now, we can stay and finish dinner or I can take you home?" thunder crashed and rain was pouring heavily.
"Um...I think that we can leave. It's storming and I don't want there to be any accidents," she replied.
"You are correct about that," I said as I signaled for the waiter to bring the bill.
"My mother isn't home, but she lives with me. The apartment is what I can afford and I'm keeping it decent," she stated.
"Your apartment has a home feeling to it and your personal touch to it is what..." I stopped myself.
"What?" she asked as I held her gaze.
"Your personal touch is what I would like to have in my apartment...more like home, but I'm getting ahead of myself," I let out a heavy sigh for screwing that part up. When I looked at her, I wanted her to be Bella's mother, someone that is constantly in her life and who wouldn't forsake her.
"I would like to help or simply just be there," she smiled.
"I would love to have you there," I returned her smile, and then the waiter brought the bill.
Once I paid, we walked out of the restaurant, but it was pouring outside. "Sh^t," Maddie muttered under her breath and I looked over to her, she was hugging herself and I noticed that she didn't have a jacket. I took mine off and I wrapped it around her. "Thank you," she said as she looked into my eyes. I wanted to kiss her but I didn't want to do it here.
"I will take you home," I said as I held my hand out to her and she looked at it before placing her hand in mine. I led her into the rain and straight to my car which was parked along the sidewalk.
I opened the passenger side door for her and waited until she got in before closing the door and getting into the driver's side of the car. I was partially soaked, but I wanted to make sure that Maddie was dry and for her not to catch a cold after this. The weather turned out badly, but as long as she chose to show up this evening. I got my answer and I will not take it for granted because she is the one that my soul had been searching for. I am keeping her.
Maddie's POV
I was shivering from the cold, but luckily I wasn't that wet from the rain. Mariko turned on the heater for me to get warm. We didn't say a word as Mariko focused on the road, but Somebody Else by The 1975s was playing softly in the car. I listened to that instead and the rain hit against the windows. It was one of my favorite songs.
We stopped in front of my apartment building. "I will get the door for you," he said. It was still pouring with rain. He got out and jogged around the front of the car. I took my bag as he opened the car door and I got out.
As I walked all the way up the path, I was getting soaked. Mariko was behind me and I stood at the door. I turned around to face him, the rain soaking us both further. I started to take his jacket off, "Thank you for dinner although we didn't finish it," I said, the rain drops ran down both of our faces.
"No, keep the jacket," he replied.
I nodded, before I could turn around, he grabbed me and crashed his lips against mine. I closed my eyes and his lips lingered. He pulled inches away, "I am trying my best to control myself and I think that it is best to wait a bit," he rasped, it was like he was fighting with himself to indulge in me further or not, but I was wet in my panties too, not only from the rain but my core was throbbing.
"We don't have to wait," I replied, which barely a whisper.
"Well, we have to have that conversation first about being on protection and I don't have condoms and I am soaked in the rain." he said as he looked at my parted lips.
"Please kiss me again," I begged. I wanted more kissing, at least until we have the conversation that he wanted to have. He crashed his lips against mine again and this time it was passionate. He pulled me even closer to him. I parted my lips to catch my breath but he slid his tongue into my mouth and I moaned in return.
Next thing I knew is that my back was pressed against the wall, and he pulled away, as we both were panting. "Would you like to come inside?" I asked.
"No, if I do, I might just want more than a kiss...so I'm playing it safe," I watched as his Adam's apple moved as he swallowed. "You are like a drug that I need but I can't take right now...I mean it is too soon for s^x. I am a man who would like to wait a bit. But I wish I could stay and the way that you are looking at me right now is making it very difficult," he rasped.
"Maybe I don't want you to leave. Why don't you stay the night? I can at least take the sofa," I tried my luck. I was okay with no s^x, I just felt like having him over even if he limited the kissing too.
He pulled away from me completely and then he looked at his car. "I will pull the car into the driveway and then I will be up," he said, and I was so happy that he was going to be staying over.
I went into the apartment building, climbed the stairs and unlocked the door of my apartment. My neighbors are quiet, which I'm grateful for. The place that my mother and I had lived all our lives was very noisy and busy. We were not used to the quietness and when we moved here, we loved it immediately and it was something to get used to.
Once I was inside, I took off Mariko's jacket and I hung it at the back of the door and then, as I moved further into the little lounge, I kicked off my red heels. My hair was soaked. "You look so beautiful," I turned around to see Mariko, looking at me with admiration. I didn't hear him close the door behind him.
"Thank you." I smiled and then I took in his appearance, "You are soaked, I don't have men's clothing but you cannot be in wet clothing all the time." He smirked.
"I kept a little backpack in handy for emergency travels," My eyes darted to the black backpack that was on the ground beside him. I nodded, "Right. Um, you can use the shower." I led him to the bathroom.
"I will see you in a bit," he smiled at me before he went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
I went to the kitchen and I switched on the kettle. I wanted hot chocolate on this cold rainy evening. I walked into my bedroom, and grabbed a towel. While I towel dried my hair, it was sinking into my brain that Mariko would be spending the night. I was eager to spend it with him. Once I was done, I was struggling to unzip my dress. It was of no use. I don't know why I bought this dress, because who would've helped me get out of it? I used a long wire thing to zip it up which, by the way, added mostly to me being late.
I felt hands on my arms and I froze. "It's me...let me help you," Mariko rasped and as he zipped my dress down, I felt his finger graze my skin. It sent goosebumps throughout my whole body. He stopped just at the curve of my ass. "All done."
I let out a shaky and needy breath. "Thank you," I said as I turned around to look at him.
His eyes were hungry for more. I could see that clearly, "I will be in the lounge while you change," he smirked and then he walked out. My eyes landed on the back of his white t-shirt, but those gray sweat pants were making me drool to have him even more. I must admit, I am disappointed that he left me wanting more.