Call Me Maybe

[Rosalynd]

"Little Pig, Little Pig, let me come in.."

"NOOOOO Dada!" a small voice laughs, followed by the sound of chasing feet around his living room. "I wanna be the wolf this time."

I am lying in a small bed in a guest room tucked underneath his stairs. Axel offered it to me as a place to rest while I waited for my car to be repaired. After a quick shower, I soon fell asleep. But now I am awake, wide awake.

I lie there for several minutes, not sure if I should interrupt their scene, or wait for it to simmer down before coming out and asking Axel about the progress on my car. It's not that I don't trust him to get it done quickly, it's just that I'm eager to be on the road as soon as I can. Slone is waiting for me to show up in Arcata. I should have already been there, actually, and I would have been there if my car hadn't broken down. I'm supposed to be staying with her while I try to figure out what to do next.

"Daddy" a small voice whispers. "Your friend is awake."

How did he know?

"Why don't you go and find your Grandpa for a few,"

"WHHHHYYYY" the small voice whines, "Why can't I meet your friend?"

"Not yet, Rafe. We don't want to scare her away." I smile. I'm not sure I am ready to meet his son yet, either. It's good to know we are both on the same page.

I can hear that the two of them are talking, but I cannot hear what they are saying well enough to make out the rest of the words. Soon I hear little footprints stomping up the stairs as larger ones approach my small closet-sized room.

"Good Afternoon, sleepy head." I can hear the smile in his voice. "Are you decent?"

I look down and make sure that everything is adequately covered up when I respond, "Yes."

He opens the door with a wide swing and peeks his head inside. "So I.." he steps inside the room. I stand up. He pauses mid-word, his gaze stuck on my bare legs. I had taken my jeans off to sleep more comfortably, and now I am standing here in only an oversized t-shirt I borrowed from him and panties. As he looks me up and down, slowly taking me in from my toes to my polka-dot panties, I feel shy. As his eyes move upward, pausing at my breasts which are pushing against his old t-shirt, before landing on my trembling lips, the sensation of his slow gaze feels warm and wet, like a smooth tongue washing me clean from toe to top. The raw lust I see on his face makes me gasp.

It was sexy as hell. He said he only wants to be my friend but I'm getting the feeling he wasn't entirely honest about that either. Because, damn it, I wanted him too.

Suddenly the room feels too crowded, too hot. With effort, he closes his open, gaping mouth and looks up to meet my eyes.

"So...." he lets out a deep, grounding breath, bringing his excitement under control. "Your car is ready whenever you are. I can give you a ride to the mechanic if you'd like."

"Sure, " I swallow, licking my dry lips "just let me put my pants back on..."

"Oh, yeah, goddess, of..of course!" He stutters. "Let me just...ow!" he bangs his head on the low doorway as he backs out of the room. "Damn! Fuck!" Then looking up, shame-faced he adds, "Excuse me! I mean, damn it!"

I'm trying not to laugh, but fail as I chortle "Don't worry about it, I'll be out in a minute."

"Okay, sorry!" and he shuts the door behind him swiftly.

Gulping down my laughter, I find my pants, pull them on, and head out to face the man in the room just beyond the door.

His back is facing me as I approach the counter. He hasn't acknowledged me yet, which gives me plenty of time to watch and observe his movements. He is beautifully built, his well-defined muscles made from work, not in a gym, his strong back, shoulders, arms, legs, and incredibly curved ass. Yes, I noticed. I'm heartbroken, not dead. Despite being large in size, he moves with a grace that should be impossible for someone so big, his movements more like a dance than anything else. I find myself lost in thoughts of what it would be like to see him moving above me when he turns around.

He's so damn pretty.

But what makes him beautiful is the genuine nature of his smile. He isn't smiling at me to get anything from me, to convince me of his goodness, or any other trick. He means his smile--it is open, honest, and sincere.

"Where's your son?" I ask, looking around.

"Oh, my dad picked him up and is taking him to the river. It's going to be another hot day, so it's perfect river weather," he explains.

"I see..." a question in my voice.

"So I'm free to take you to the mechanic. I hope you don't mind, but I told Steve we'd just come pick it up."

"Okaaay..."

"Oh!" His whole expression brightens. "I also made you a breakfast burrito."

I mirror his smile as I gladly take the warm, foil-wrapped brick from his hands. It is huge and I am grateful. "Oh my gods, thank you! I am starving."

A self-pleased smirk replaces his smile when he responds "You're absolutely welcome. Shall we go?"

I nod, and he leads the way back to his truck.

We're at the mechanic's shop in less than 5 minutes, the shop almost walking distance from his home. The silver-haired mechanic, Steve, was a kindly gentleman who didn't charge me anything other than parts. "It was a labor of love to get you back on the road," he explains. "I honestly found the challenge of repairing your engine a truly engaging puzzle."

I tried to pay for the parts using my credit card, but Axel already had a card on file and asked Steve to charge it to his account, despite my protestations. Axel is apparently not used to hearing the word "no."

And I'm so used to bending to other's demands, that I probably am too good at hearing it.

Just as I'm about to get back into my car, Axel asks me for my phone number.

"Why?" I question.

"So I can give you my number."

Blushing, I ask. "And why would I want that..."

His face grows red and I hear the faintest growl.

"Did you just growl at me?"

"No," his teeth are clenched tight. "I just sound like this when I'm frustrated."

I laugh, which seems to unnerve him a bit. "Here," I hand him my phone, set to a new contact page. "Put all of your information here and I'll give you a call."

"When?"

"When I.." I pause, feeling a little less flirty. "When I need a friend."

His gaze softens. Reaching out to caress my face, he slides a strand of hair behind my ear. Leaning down close to me, his breath tickling my nose, he says in a deep, slow, resonant voice, "call me if anything happens and you need help. I mean it, I want you to rely on me if you need to. It is never a bother."

"I'll be fine I'll..."

"Call me if your car doesn't make it or you get lost, or if you just want to talk," he interrupts then continues. "And please, call me as soon as you get where you are going so that I know you made it there safely. I will worry about you until I know you are okay."

I've never had anyone, not even my own mother, show so much concern for my safety. It was strange, but also, comforting.

"Oh...okay."

Satisfied with my response, he releases my face and nods.

"Safe travels," he wishes me as I start my engine. "I look forward to hearing from you."

Not sure how to respond, I drive away, his honey-colored eyes watching me in my rear-view mirror.