‘You are never boring, nor do you look that way.’
Jeff held her hand as they walked down the hallway towards his apartment.
‘So, finally I get to see your place?’ asked Violetta. ‘You have been so cagey not letting me see it.’
‘Yes, well it’s not that exciting. My interior decoration skills are about the same as my fashion sense,’ he laughed as he opened the door.
Violetta looked around. It was a gorgeous space, large, and with wonderful details around the ceilings and the windows. Violetta could see through the enormous archways into other rooms. There was a staircase on the side that led up and she could make out French doors on one side of the room.
‘You have an upstairs and a balcony?’ she asked, amazed.
‘Yes,’ said Jeff, ‘but sadly no furniture.’
Violetta looked around the vastly under-furnished room and frowned.
‘I have to ask this, why are you living in such a huge place by yourself?’
‘I don’t know. I bought it when I got my residency and then when upstairs came up, I bought that also. And then I put a staircase in but I have done nothing to it,’ he said, embarrassed.
‘You need a decorator,’ Violetta said, walking to the French doors. ‘May I?’
‘Of course,’ said Jeff.
He walked over and swung them open to reveal a balcony that overlooked Central Park. ‘OK, you officially have the best apartment in New York, and I have seen many of them, trust me,’ she said, leaning over the balcony.
Jeff pulled her to him. ‘Come here,’ he growled, and kissed her passionately.
Violetta was swept away by his passion and she let herself be kissed.
‘Man, you are so sexy in that suit, I think I’m going to faint,’ she said in his ear.
Jeff laughed and pulled her inside.’ I have to make love to you now, Violet. I have thought about nothing else all day and night.’
He started to unbutton her cardigan. Violetta stood still as he pulled it from her shoulders and she stood in her black lace bra. He undid her pants and she unzipped her boots and kicked them off. He pulled off her pants and she stood in her briefs as he unhooked her bra. She slipped off her briefs and stood naked in front of him, raising her eyebrows as if to say, what else?
Jeff stood back and assessed her. ‘You are so, so beautiful,’ he said, standing still.
Violetta felt herself becoming shy. He looked at her in a way no man had ever seen her, beyond her body and instead as a woman.
‘So, now that you have me naked in your empty but fabulous apartment, what will you do with me?’ she teased to cover her embarrassment.
Jeff led her by the hand to his bedroom and opened the door. The room was empty except for a bed. And a phone charger.
‘You live like a terrorist,’ said Violetta, as he took her to the bed. ‘Or maybe a spy,’ she added, pulling at his bow tie.
Jeff undressed quickly and stood opposite Violetta, not touching.
‘Is this just a fling, Jeff?’ she asked, overcome with insecurity.
‘Is it for you?’ he asked, equally worried.
‘No,’ she answered.
‘I’m in love with you, Violetta. I hope you will be mine,’ he said. He reached out and held her face in his hands. ‘I even asked your mom when she was in a coma how to make you mine,’ he said seriously.
Violetta felt her eyes fill with tears. ‘I love you too, Jeff, and I think my mom heard you.’ She kissed him on the mouth.
That night they made love, slowly and with a tenderness Violetta had never known. Waking in his apartment the next day, she watched him as he slept and smiled.
