Katie's Escape

"But then again, I am drunk." He shot back and grabbed her glass out of her hand so fast Katie barely registered until her glass was half empty.

"Hey!" She grabbed the half eaten bruschetta from his hand and stuffed it in her mouth. They both cracked up.

"Mmm, delicious!" She yelled at him "Your drool really brings out the pesto" Katie chewed and covered her mouth. "You owe me a glass of wine by the way."

She tried to grab the glass from him. "Hey, hey, hey." He warned, moving it away so she had to reach over. Instead, she grabbed his glass and slammed it down like he did hers. It was a shame to waste such elegant Merlot but the dramatic effect was priceless. Her hand slammed on the table as she finished.

Lucas's eyes flickered over Katie's face with genuine amusement, meeting her eyes for just a moment. She blushed and looked around the room.

"Where is our waitress? This is horrible service. Our glasses are empteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee." She drew out 'empty' just to break the moment, followed by devouring an entire bruschetta in a very dramatic fashion. His eyes watched in both wonder and concern.

Food stuffed in her cheeks, she smiled.

"I love your dimple" He said, pointing to his cheek, mirroring where hers was.

"I'm sure you do, but I am not drunk enough to start believing that shit." She swallowed down a nasty comment about the waitress that was on the tip of her tongue, because she knew better. Even when she was lit.

"I have wine at my apartment" Lucas offered, with more sexual undertones than Jessica Rabbit. Katie cleared her throat. Just then a new waitress came and filled their glasses. Katie impulsively ordered desert, blurting it out without prior warning. This isn't a date anyway, so why should he care?

As the waitress walked away, Katie quickly defended herself."Who doesn't love desert? Honestly! Plus I couldn't help myself, that picture is staring me right in the face like a starving kitten or something!"

********

"KATIE!" Sam cried, snapping Katie out of her staring contest with the floor.

"What?" She exclaimed, startled out of her mind.

"Jesus, you were gone all night and you never answered your phone! We went to Norms and had a blast. I kept texting on the hour every hour. Where were you?"

"Ummm. Well, I, um, just fell asleep I guess."

"Okay, where? It obviously wasn't here. And why were you sleeping somewhere else? And with whom? Anyone I know? Is it a boy?" She gasped "OMG! Did you have sex? You had sex! You slut! Who is it? Do I know him? No, no. I want to guess! No okay tell me, I can't take it"

Katie's eyes widened at Sam's full on conversation with herself and the final deduction. Sam had a way of reaching her own conclusions at an impressive rate with little to no knowledge of the circumstances. The rate of accuracy was another issue entirely.

"Jesus Sam, it's 10 am and you are giving me the 3rd degree. I need food and coffee and Pike Place flowers. Let's talk and walk'"

******

Lucas showered, throw on some track pants and a shirt and left his apartment.

Coffee first, he thought. Coffee might somehow get Katie off of his mind but, he didn't want to forget about Katie. But the thought that she didn't want him was like a fiery slap in the face. Thousands of questions paraded his mind without answers.

As he walked, He recalled every moment, the night replayed over and over in his head....

He saw her at that French bakery, pushing up her glasses while another hand drummed over her mouth as she searched the pastry case. There was something about her that he couldn't quite describe. Katie had caught his eye the moment Prosser Lee introduced her in class. She wasn't the typical cover girl model type but she was hot, just in a different way. Not the slutty hot that he usually pounced on without hesitation. She was nerdy but well put together in her white cotton V-neck and grey sweater. It was simple yet so.... sexy. Feminine.

He'd never seen her outside of the Library and class. Katie would walk past his study table several times while shelving or pulling books and never once gave him a glance. She would hand back papers without even an acknowledgment when he said thanks.

This seemed to be fate. Lucas didn't even know the bakery was there, let alone go into it. But, he was in the mood for an espresso and the "original" Starbucks a few stores down just didn't cut it today. Plus, it was jam packed, as usual. Pike street was only for local business and the only reason Starbucks stayed on Pike street is because they kept their original store front, but the inside was 100% corporate. Such a shame.

When Lucas walked in, Katie immediately caught his eye. But, as usual, she focused on the pastry case. This was his chance; he had to talk to her. So, he brought up something safe. Class.

She looked up, her face flashed annoyance at first then shifted to unreadable. She answered quickly and kept brushing him off but he wasn't going to be deterred. He followed her to where she sat, hoping the annoying yet cocky and cute routine would work.

But, she struck him down the very second he tried to turn on the flattery, yet her face stayed unreadable and her attention stayed on the book.

Yet, this was no ordinary come back. Sure, it was clever, well timed and extremely fitting but it also gave reference to one of his favorite shows: How I Met Your Mother. He nearly choked on his words and couldn't think of what to say. Lucas was floored.

Somehow, words bubbled back up and he managed to quickly change his approach. She was an intellectual, not some zebra-print-high-heal-air-head reading Cosmo while caking on lips gloss. Lucky for him, he knew the book she was reading. Lucas found an in. After that, their conversation just flowed naturally. They clicked.

Before he knew it, they were drinking wine and discussing wine appellations in Eastern Washington.

"I'm surprised you drink wine" She said, her dark brown eyes beamed at him as she fiddled with her earring.

"Why is that? I'm really fucking sophisticated and shit."

She busted up laughing, nearly spitting out her wine. He couldn't help but laugh with her. Katie's laugh was contagious and...charming.

"Like, that's so deep dude" She responded "You beam intellectitudalism." She expanded her hands for emphasis.

"I know. I make it look so possimpable AND I have bold profoundexdidy. It's no big deal though."

They laughed even harder and topped off their glasses. He tried to recall a time when he'd met a girl who got all the TV references but he already knew that never was one. Until now.

They decided to get food other than the oyster crackers and cheese the wine bar had to offer. As they walked out, he glanced over at her profile. Her face was striking, angular yet feminine. She pushed up her glasses and shrugged "So where to?" In a flash, it hit him that she had an innocence he hadn't known he'd been searching for.

Suddenly lust slapped him so hard his cheeks flushed. He grabbed her and kissed her without consent. He didn't know what to expect but her slamming him against the wall and welcoming his tongue somehow surprised him. Her hands ran through his hair, his hands ran up her sides, down her body. He groaned and his hand searched her bare skin.

She pulled away and he nearly fell to his knees from the shock.

Katie looked down and ran her finger over her bottom lip. He could see the deep crimson flush of her cheeks.

"I think I should go" His heart sank. No, his head screamed. He didn't want the night to end, not so soon. He didn't even care if they sat around drinking coffee and playing board games. He just wanted to be near her. Lucas didn't care to think about what it meant either.

In a desperate attempt, clutching at straws, he suggested another place. Anywhere.

He sighed with relief, mentally, at her acceptance. The awkwardness melted seamlessly. They started talking like nothing happened, but his body failed to register that shift.

The next wine bar was crazy, crowded and fun. He nodded at a few classmates, slapped a few hands but found a small, semi-private table for the two of them. Their closeness only increased the rush of blood from his brain. He needed some alcohol, maybe, just maybe that would help.

Their waitress came stalking up but Lucas didn't even notice until she set their plate down. Then, she was inches from his face with a look that screamed sex in no uncertain terms. His libido came to a screeching halt and he gave her a sneer before he could stop himself. He could see the caked on makeup, the jet black eye liner and the pale, veiny cleavage right in his face. He was annoyed.

He diverted her aggressive come on with a comment he knew would make her leave. It had the desired effect. But, he could see the look on Katie's face, saw her lose the moment they were having. Fuck, he thought. Some stupid blonde slut wasn't going to ruin his night. Without missing a beat, she shoved a piece of bruschetta inches from his face. He was delighted with her and bit into it.

He smiled wide and wanted her even more when she ordered dessert. Girls never ordered desert in front of him. Ever. Even when he offered to share, they would suggest sharing something else. He didn't object, of course, but he never realized he'd been hooking up with the same kind of girls for years. Until now.

They paired a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Champoux vineyard and chocolate crème brule topped with chocolate covered raspberries.

"I know it's un-lady like to order desert in front of males, but again, this Cab cannot be savored without chocolate. If you thought that Merlot was good, this will end your life from sensory overload."

The dessert appeared out of nowhere, like lightening.

She took a bite followed by a sip of wine and moaned. Lust kept slapping him in waves as her mouth ran over the metal spoon and her moaning didn't help either.

"Please eat some. I won't be able to finish it. Okay, I could but I would feel like a cow. And make sure you have the chocolate in your mouth and then take a drink. It's very important and I will pistol whip you if you get it wrong."

He opened his mouth, suggesting she feed him. To his surprise, she did, but at the last minute smeared some on his face.

"Awww, I should have seen that coming." He smiled and stuffed the remains in his mouth. He followed orders and sipped some wine without wiping off all of the chocolate.

"Good God. That is borderline erotic" He exclaimed and took in every nuance that hit his palate.

She laughed "You being serious with food all over your face is classic" He wiped off his mouth with a napkin, which he promptly crumpled up and threw at Katie.

"Come on, low blow" She said with a mouth full of chocolate. He wanted so bad to lick chocolate off of her skin. Hell, he'd settle for just skin.

The desert dwindled, as did their wine. They continued to laugh and make fun of each other.

"By all means, have the last bite. It'll just go straight to my hips" He encouraged her. He was well past buzzed and was feeling bold.

Her eyes did a once over after he said that. "Obviously" Katie shot back, eyes widening for dramatic effect. He couldn't help but laugh.

"Are you sure you don't want some?" She opened her food filled mouth. He raised his eyebrows and nodded his chin.

"Hey now, don't make promises you can't keep." She rolled her eyes and washed down the last of the food with wine.

Before his better judgment stopped him, he went in for a kiss once again and she didn't stop him. The wine and chocolate tasted even better in her mouth. She snaked her arms around his neck and his hands rested on her sides, careful not to move too fast like last time. But, he got lost in the kiss and his hands had a mind of their own. Her smooth tongue and playful teeth made his blood pound. He wanted more. More skin, less public and less clothes. The kiss grew deeper, urgent and their hands where racing anywhere they could touch. The massive crowd was gone, the heavy, heart pounding lust was all they could hear.

"Let's get out of here" She whispered into his ear, voice heavy with promise, followed by a small nibble on his ear lobe.

Lucas needed no further explanation. His apartment was well within walking distance. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the bar.

Katie forcefully dragged Lucas to her mouth once more and he couldn't even put up a fight if he wanted to. Once again, they were franticly making out in the street, not giving the public show a second thought.

"Your place or mine?" She asked against his mouth, running her finger over his bottom lip while her heavy gaze followed.

"Yes" was all he could spit out and hated how shaky his voice sounded.

"Mine is just..." She started but he dragged her in the opposite direction.