Biting her lip, Meg sucked in a deep breath then got up from the table and walked over to the window. At the realization, her soaring heart had plummeted down to her toes. The disappointment was thick on her tongue and she felt a warning prick behind her eyes. No, this was not the time for tears. She had to think.
She wanted the money. Badly. But how could she let Drake Duncan back into her life? She’d been twenty years old when she met the tall, blond and excruciatingly handsome senior in Philosophy 401. She’d been a junior then, shy and reserved, and had been taken aback when, at the end of year dance, Drake had ignored the girls fishing around him and asked her for the last dance. It hadn’t been in Meg’s power to refuse. She’d been fantasizing about him all semester, knowing fully well that she had no hope of ever being with a man like that. He was the darling of the university, on the Dean’s List, and a star on the swim team. Why would he even look at her?
But here he was, with his hand held out to her, inviting her to slow dance with him. She raised startled eyes to him and placed her trembling hand in his. Did he know she was madly in love with him? Could he feel her heart beating wildly in her chest? The thoughts chased one another around in her head, drowning out the music that pulsated in the auditorium. She shook her head, pushed her doubts to the back of her mind and gave him a bright smile. Bravely, she stood up and stepped into his arms.
For Meg the night was like something out of a fairy tale. She felt like Cinderella, not deserving the attention of the prince but basking in the glory of it just the same. She almost expected him to disappear at the stroke of midnight. But no such thing happened. In fact, at the end of the dance he walked her all the way back to the dorm room she shared with her roommate. Thinking Amy was in, Meg opened the door, feeling safe in the expectation that his visit would be chaperoned. But there was no Amy there. She’d probably decided to spend the last night before graduation with her boyfriend.
Not wanting to look like an idiot, Meg invited him in anyway. There were beers in the fridge, compliments of Amy who was already twenty-one, so she offered him one. He accepted. And so they sat and talked while Drake had a drink and then another. He was relaxed, lounging in the sofa while she perched on the edge of the arm chair. By the time Meg offered Drake a third beer she’d become just a bit more comfortable with him, charmed by his humor and worldly air. Who would have thought that Drake Duncan would choose to spend his last night before graduation talking to her?
Though they’d been in the same class of over a hundred students, he admitted that he’d only begun to notice her when she presented her paper to the class the week before. She giggled in embarrassment when he told her how he’d admired how professional she’d seemed as she addressed the class. Like a real philosopher, he said. She glowed with pride at his words. Drake Duncan admired her. But did he like her, too? Was that why he’d invited her to dance?
And then he said them, the words she’d been dying to hear all night, all semester, all her life. “You’re a beautiful girl, Meg. I don’t know how I never noticed you before.” He gave her a boyish grin. “I think I like you.”
He patted the seat beside him. “Come sit over here. There’s lots of space, and you sure don’t look comfortable over there.” When she hesitated he gave her a gentle smile. “Come on, we’ll just relax and watch some TV. I’m not going to bite.”
Meg swallowed. “TV? But…it’s kind of late…”
“Just for a little while. I want to see the replay of today’s big game. It’s more fun watching it with you than back in my room. Can’t get too much football, right?”
He patted the seat again and this time Meg moved. He was right. What harm was there in watching some television with him? It was probably the last time she would see Drake Duncan before he graduated and headed off to another life so it made sense to savor every moment with him. She got up off the chair and took the three steps to the sofa where he took her hand and pulled her down to sit beside him.
Drake was true to his word. He flipped channels till he found the game and they watched play after play, comfortable in each other’s company. Eventually, though, the late hour got the best of Meg and her eyelids began to droop. She was barely aware of her head sliding to rest against Drake’s warm shoulder and then she was gone.
When Meg woke up she found herself lying on Drake’s chest, her head tucked under his chin. He was sprawled in the sofa, his chest rising and falling gently, his heart beating in a slow and steady rhythm. He was fast asleep. Slowly, she lifted her head and in the soft glow from the TV she got her first really close look at the man of her dreams. She still could not believe that she was lying in his arms. Could this be a dream? Was she asleep and just fantasizing again? Well, if it was all a dream then she might as well make use of it. She might never get the chance again.
Gently, so as not to wake him, Meg slid up Drake’s body until her face was over his. She smiled down at him. He looked so peaceful, so innocent when he slept. Gone were the crooked grin and the slight c**k of the eyebrows. This was the real Drake Duncan, and she was probably the only girl in the whole school who had seen him this way. Suddenly, she was no longer afraid of him. She no longer saw him as a young god on earth. He was lying right there beneath her, big and warm, a man of flesh and blood. And she wanted him. Gosh, did she ever want him.
With a sudden surge of adrenalin came a bravery which made Meg lose her usual shyness and do something she would not normally have dared. Before she could change her mind she closed her eyes and pressed her lips to Drake’s, savoring the feel of his mouth against hers. When he moaned, still deep in sleep, she slid her arm up around his neck and pressed her body into his, totally aroused by his groan. He was moaning for her, only for her, and the thought made her ni**les peak inside her bra. She kissed him harder.
And then he was kissing her back. She had no idea at what point he came to consciousness but before she knew what was happening she was no longer in control. He had his hand at her back now, anchoring her body to his while his other hand slid up to cup her head and angle her face so that he had full access to her lips. He was kissing her, all the desire she was feeling reflected in the passion of his kiss.