TABOO TALES(erotica)

Soft, red lips that conceal the tenderness of a secret love… blue eyes sparkling with laughter… blonde hair falling in waves like ocean waves at sunrise…

“Alex?”

Her gentle, yet firm touch sending electric through my skin…

“Alex!”

I shook myself out of my reverie and looked up to see Tanya’s frustrated glare.

“It’s your turn. Geez, where are you tonight?” she asked.

With embarrassment I realized I had been daydreaming about my sister, Sara, again – and not for the first time tonight. I stood up feeling rather self-conscious and walked past Tanya to pick up my bowling ball from the return. My first shot was less than stellar. While waiting for the ball to return I looked over at Tanya to see her staring at me with an unhappy look in her eyes.

My second shot down the lane brought down even less pins.

As I returned to sit, Tanya cornered me. “What is it with you tonight? It’s like you aren’t even here.”

Instantly I felt defensive. Crossly, I said, “Would you just back off? I’m trying okay?”

Wrong thing to say. It looked like a door closed in here eyes. A wall had gone up. “Fine.” she said and got up to bowl.

The next half hour was spent in near silence. The game had turned from something fun into a chore that had to be completed. I felt bad about what was going on but my head felt cloudy. Even though Tanya looked insanely beautiful tonight all I could think about was the physical wall she still kept up – a wall that didn’t exist between my sister and I. I was resenting that wall. I wanted more with Tanya like I had with Sara. That resentment was turning into annoyance and frustration.

I knew it, I could see it happening, I knew it wasn’t what I wanted but it was happening. I was pushing her away.

Finally the game was over and we returned our shoes and I paid. Tanya barely waited for me to finish before heading out the door. As we stepped outside I was about to speak up and apologize when her cell phone rang. She stepped to the side of the entrance and I stood near as she pulled her phone out of her small purse and answered it.

She greeted whomever had called and immediately her face fell. “What?” she asked. It was silent for a moment as she listened. “How… I mean, when?” There were tears in her eyes. She wiped one off her cheek, still listening. “Okay. Yeah. I… can I just call you tomorrow?” Her voice broke. “Ok. Bye. Love you too.” She hung up, breathed deeply, looking past the parking lot lights toward the stars.

“Tanya, what’s…” I began before she cut me off.

“I have to go. Thanks for taking me out.” she said and walked away to her car. I dumbly stood there and watched as her engine started up, lights came on and she drove off.

It was a few seconds until I reached for my keys when it dawned on me that she’d driven us both there… I had no car.

My mind reviewed what had just happened as I pulled my phone out and dialed my sister. She answered on the third ring and was very amused that I was stuck at the bowling alley. She picked up something in the tone of my voice, however, and realized that something was going on and promised to be there shortly.

I sat down on the curb and thought about the evening. Thought about my feelings for Tanya – good and bad. I had a feeling I knew what the call may have meant but wasn’t sure. That she hadn’t wanted to tell me about it meant I must have really hurt her feelings tonight.

I was so lost in my introspection that I was surprised when a car pulled up to the curb, making me jump back with a start. I heard Sara’s friendly laughter come from the open window.

“Sorry about that!” she said as I opened the door and got inside. “What’s up? Why’d she leave you here?”

Sara eased the car away from the curb, out of the parking lot and out into the road.

“She got a call… sounded like someone she knows is hurt or something. I think she forgot she drove us both.”

Sara glanced at me after a moment of silence. “Uh huh. What else?” I looked over at her. “I can tell something else is up.”

I pursed my lips and sighed. “I was ignoring her I think.”

Sara was quiet for a minute. “Do you know why? I thought you really like her.”

“I do! I don’t know. I just feel like she’s still holding me at arms length. I don’t want to pressure her to be affectionate but I get really tired wondering whether or not she feels close to me. Like the way we feel.”

Again, silence.

“Alex… I don’t want to ask this, but were you daydreaming about us tonight? Like, were you ignoring her because of that?”

Hesitantly I said yes.

To my surprise, Sara pulled the car over to the side of the road – several cars passing by as she turned the blinkers on.

“Alex. Do you really like her or not?”

It wasn’t a hard question for me to answer. “Yeah. I do.”

Sara waited for me to look over at her before she said anything else. “Then you need to get over yourself. Okay? You told me before that she’s had a rough time trusting people. She’s not going to get over that and you’ve just hit her in the heart tonight.”

Her intensity startled me. Were it not for how earnestly she said it I would have felt worse but I could sense her compassion for Tanya.

“What should I do? I mean, she just got that call and barely said goodbye… I was such a jerk…”

“Where does she live?” Sara asked. I had barely told her before we were back out on the road.

“I do not want what you and I are doing to mess things up with you and Tanya, okay? I mean that. I’m your sister Alex, and it’s easy for me to love you, okay? Tanya doesn’t know you like I do. She’s not going to open up as quickly as you want.”

She turned onto the main street that Tanya’s apartment building was on, several blocks away.

“So what am I supposed to do? If there’s something going on tonight I can’t just interrupt to talk about our relationship.” I said.

“No. You aren’t going to talk about your relationship.” Sara sighed. “Girls want to be pursued, rescued. We want to know you’re there to protect us when we need it. You need to pursue her tonight and let her know you’re there to fight for her.”

I looked at Sara quizzically.

She felt my stare and a little grin formed on her lips. “Okay, so when you called I was reading a romance novel alright? Give me a break and just trust me. And don’t be an ass to her or I’ll never talk to you again.” She smiled.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

We had arrived at the apartments and Sara pulled into a space. With a deep breath I opened the door and got out of the car. One last glance back at Sara, who smiled encouragingly, and I pulled my phone out and began walking to the front entrance, dialing Tanya’s number.

I had to call twice before she picked up. Her voice sounded tired but there was a hint of apology as she answered. “I’m sorry, I forgot I drove us both.” was her greeting.

Feeling my heart beating strongly I said, “Hey, it’s okay. Tanya, I know something’s up. I was an ass tonight and I apologize.”

There was silence on the other end. Sara watched from the car.

“You were an ass. At least you know it.” Tanya finally said.

“Yeah. Seriously. I’m very sorry. I’m, um… I’m outside. I got a ride here. I know the call you got was important and hurt you. I’m here for you. I know you might be angry at me right now and I deserve it, but I’m willing to take that right now if you’ll let me be here for you.”

Another silence. She was surprised. “You’re here?”

“Mm hmm.”

She sighed. “I don’t know if I want to see anyone.”

“I’m not going to press Tanya, but…” I swallowed nervously, “… I really do care about you. I mean it. I don’t know what’s going on and it might hurt… but I want to hurt with you.”

She waited another entire minute before speaking. When she did, my heart skipped. “I… I guess I do need you right now. I’ll come down to meet you.”

I was stunned and let her go on the phone. I cast a thumbs-up to Sara who grinned, and backed out of her space in the lot and drove off. A few seconds later I saw Tanya’s silhouette appear on the frosted window of the entryway. The door eased open and there she was – eyes red and puffy, hair slightly messed, wearing pajama bottoms…

She’d never looked as beautiful to me before.

I stepped up to her, looked into her troubled eyes, and we fell into each other’s arms. It wasn’t long before her tears were soaking into my shoulder. A few moments later she guided me up the stairs to her apartment – a stained glass dragonfly hanging from her door – and led me inside.

Nothing “happened” that night, but everything changed. We sat on her couch for hours, her under a blanket, as she told me that her grandfather had passed away and shared with me how much he had meant to her. She told me stories – both funny and painful – until the early hours of the morning. I held her as she cried, rubbed her back and encouraged her as best I could.

She looked me in the eyes and whispered, “I love you,” as she passed out in my arms. And gently place her trembling lips against mine in a kiss that is deeper than anything I could have ever imagined having with her. Thank you. After that, she let out a sigh, cuddled up close to me, and dozed off.