submission pt. 1

We met at a bar. I was there alone. I had been drinking with a few friends, and they had left not long ago. I chose to stay, as I was really enjoying a new wine I'd discovered, and was sipping on my second glass. It was a chilly day, early in the winter in New York when the cold blankets the bundled New Yorkers with so many hats and scarves. I was sitting there at the corner of the long bar, my legs dangling from my bar stool. The bar was loosely populated with a range of young professionals, mostly men, having a drink or many after a long day. A number of men had glanced my direction, and a few had tried to strike up conversation, but I wasn't in much of a mood for flirting that night. For some reason, I noticed him as soon as he came in the door. He hung is coat and scarf on a rack and put up his cap. He was wearing a collared shirt and slacks with a tie. I figured he must have just left work, but it was already after 10. What kind of paper-pusher works this late? I thought. He sat down one bar stool away from me, and ordered, "Scotch. Double. Neat." I looked at him without turning my head his way, wondering why he'd chosen to sit by me, and more importantly, why I was so interested in this stranger. He was not the kind of guy I'd normally be attracted to. As an artist, I'm more fond of the lanky artsy musician types, with messy hair, thrift store clothing, and a head full of strange ideas. This guy was very clean cut. Sharply trimmed blonde hair, blue eyes, shaven face, tall and muscular. 


When his drink arrived, he turned to me and raised his glass, "Cheers," he said. I clinked my wine glass against his scotch glass, and said, "Cheers," smiling curiously. We started chatting. His name was Rob. He was a young lawyer, 32 and just getting going in a major firm. He'd just left his office, working late on a big case.


Talking to him was easy. Very easy. I had more wine than I should have, and he had a number of scotches but appeared unaffected. "Want me to walk you home?" I laughed. "I don't live around here." We were downtown Manhattan, where the cost to rent for a month would be greater than half a years income for me. "I live in Brooklyn, I'm going to catch a train." "Really?" he said. "A bit late for that, don't you think?" I looked at my watch, it was after 3 in the morning. "Yeah, but I'll be okay." I stood and put on my coat and scarf. He went and put on his outer layers as well, and we walked out together. "At least let me put you in a cab." I knew it would be a 40-something dollar cab ride. "I'll pay for it." I, being overly proud and indignant, refused. "No, the train will be fine." We walked down the block and I shivered in the cold wind. He put his arms on my shoulders. "Taleah. Please. It's freezing. My place is right around the corner. Just spend the night, and you can leave in the morning." I looked at him questioningly. "I promise. No fast moves." I laughed, and conceded. "Okay, okay. Only because it's so cold..." He put his arm around me and we walked another block, and a doorman showed us into his building. In the elevator, he leaned forward and kissed me. He kissed very softly, tenderly, and gently slid his hand over the back of my head. "I thought you said no fast moves," I said and smiled. He smiled back and said, "Oh, did I say that?" and kissed me again, my lashes fluttering against his face.




TO BE CONTINUED>>>>>>>>>>