Chapter 7

“That was supposed to be my line, pretty lady,” Derby said. “Do you always dress that well for a first date?”

Melissa blushed visibly. “Is that what this is?”

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. That was way too forward. I’m out of line,” Derby said, sounding like he meant it. “I’m just really impressed with how beautiful you are. Do you have any idea how many heads turned as you walked over here?”

“Oh, nonsense. You’re too kind,” Melissa said, blushing furiously and feeling very awkward.

“No, you’re the one being kind, agreeing to have dinner with me. I guess the term ‘date’ doesn’t really apply when we’re going to the dining hall. But hey, we might get lucky. The mystery meat tonight might even be edible.”

They laughed and headed inside. Throughout dinner, they chatted. Once Melissa started talking, she told Derby a lot about herself. She was an only child from a small town. She had dated some in high school, but had never had a long-term boyfriend. Her parents were pretty over-protective, scrutinizing every guy Melissa ever went out with. She told Derby that her parents had liked him.

Derby told Melissa a bit about himself, keeping things more or less honest, as he had the previous night with Christy. He told her about Megan, the girl that had broken his heart. He neglected to tell her about his suicide attempt after the break-up, about his year-long depression, and about his hardened heart. He was charming, witty, and quietly sexy. He could tell Melissa was warming up fast.

After dinner, they walked around the campus. Derby steered her to the ice-cream shop where he had begun his seduction of Christy the night before. He took Melissa to the courtyard where he and Christy had first kissed last night, repeated his brooding, sorrowful act, and even made himself wet-eyed and pitiful again. Hey, it had worked with Christy. Megan was no different.

Sitting there, watching this strong, handsome hunk struggle not to cry about his lost love, Melissa’s heart melted. She pulled him to her and hugged him to her bosom. “It’s OK, Derby. I’m glad you can talk about it. That must have been so terrible for you. I’m glad you trusted me enough to tell me this,” she said.

“I don’t know why, but I do trust you completely,” Derby lied. “I had to tell someone. I feel so safe with you.”

Their embrace gradually changed from one of comfort to one of affection. They both knew it.

Finally, Derby lifted his head and looked into Melissa’s eyes. They looked at each other in silence for a long time. Slowly, they came together.

The first kiss was barely a touch. The second was only a little bit closer, a little bit warmer. By about the twentieth kiss, their tongues had met.

Melissa couldn’t believe the feelings her body was giving her. Her nipples were hard, and she was aware that she was moist. She also was aware that her breathing had changed. Without knowing how it happened, she realized that her hand was on Derby’s strong, muscular thigh. “Oh my God,” she thought, “when will he touch me?” She didn’t have to wait long. His one hand caressed her face, then traced lightly over her breast, and came to rest on her smooth bare thigh, a few inches above her knee. That simple touch made her very wet.

They kissed a while longer, holding each other, with Derby spending a lot of time caressing her back and sides. But only that one time had he touched her breast. Melissa wanted more. She didn’t know why, but she wanted more intimacy with this gentle, polite young man. She had been pawed at enough in the past to expect it from him, but he was reserved. It was obvious he respected her too much to rush her. That made her like him even more.

Derby thought Melissa was ready for more, but he was starting to wonder if he would get to fuck her tonight. From what she had said, she sounded like a “good” girl. That was fine. He didn’t want some whore who would fuck anything that moved. He liked the innocent-seeming ones, because they had more to lose if he screwed them and left them high and dry. But this one might be a real challenge. Maybe he should dump her and call Christy. He could think up a convincing lie about why he hadn’t called her all day.

Then he felt Melissa’s hand on his leg again. Maybe all was not lost.

“I should get you home,” Derby said. “Course registration starts tomorrow. We’re going to have a big day.”

“OK,” Melissa said. “But I don’t think I’ll go until at least 10.” Derby decided he was going to make sure he would go at 8 so he could avoid her.

They walked hand in hand back to Melissa’s dorm. When they got to her room, she said, “Do you want to come in?”

“For a little while, sure.”

She locked the door behind them and turned on the small lamp on her new chest of drawers. She took off her sandals and sat on the side of the bed. “Come sit with me, Derby.”

As soon as he sat down next to her, Melissa kissed him again. She was ready to pick up where they had left off, opening her lips to his tongue. The kissing got more passionate. Derby removed her hair clip and combed out her wavy hair with his fingers. It was time to see what he could accomplish. He placed his one hand on her breast, lightly rubbing it through her clothes. She seemed to like it.

Emboldened, he let his hand trail down her side to the hem of her top, and then began to caress the bare skin of her side with a loving touch. Hearing no protest, he inched his way upward until he could feel her breast through her bra. Melissa’s only response was to kiss him deeper. He massaged her breast, feeling her nipple harden through the lacy fabric of the bra. Breaking the kiss, he pulled back far enough to focus on her eyes. Wide-eyed, she nodded her head slightly.